Falconry News
Discover the latest updates about falcons, falcon training information, hunting traditions, conservation programs, expert insights from around the world on Falconry News.
What is Falconry News
Falconry news is a niche kind of journalism, reporting and information sharing on the sport of hunting with trained birds of prey (falcons, hawks and eagles) and the wider study and care of raptors.
“Falconry news” encompasses a special set of issues that would not be found in mainstream sports or wildlife media, because falconry is a confluence of a historic field sport, avian research, inflexible wildlife law, and continuous conservation.
Major Events
Elite Falcon Breeders Auction
Before the autumn hunting and racing season begins, international auctions set the standard for avicultural genetics and livestock trade:
International Falcon Breeders Auction (Malham, Saudi Arabia):
Running yearly from August 5 to August 25 at the National Center for Falcons headquarters near Riyadh. The flagship event includes local and international breeding farms, live bidding on world-class captive-bred Gyrfalcons and Peregrines, and a dedicated youth pavilion, “Falconer of the Future.”
National Center for Falcons Auction:
Held from October 1 to November 30, coinciding with the autumn passage migration to promote sustainable trade and conservation awareness, particularly for the endangered Saker falcon.
International Speed Racing & ChampionShip
Winter is the height of the competitive season, with falcons racing in straight-line sprints of 400 meters (Melwah) and live quarry chases:
King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival (Saudi Arabia)
Held from mid-November to December, this is the world’s largest falconry competition with more than 3,000 raptors participating for prize pools reaching $9.6 million.
Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi Falconry Competition (UAE)
Featuring timed 400-meter straight-line sprint races at the Abu Dhabi Falconers Club across weight classifications (Small, Medium, and Large falcons) timed to the thousandth of a second by laser sensors.
Qatar International Falconry and Hunting Festival (Marmi Festival) Known for the Hadad Al-Tahadi challenge, testing the speed and endurance of a falcon in aerial pursuit across the Sealine desert.
Heritage Fairs and Educational Meets
While Middle Eastern events are about speed racing, Western events are about community mentorship, equipment trade and fieldcraft:
British Falconry and Raptor Fair (Helmsley, UK)
Hosted at the National Centre for Birds of Prey, this weekend festival is the largest of its kind in the UK. It includes flying demos from tiny Burrowing Owls to Steller’s Sea Eagles, specialist veterinary biosecurity workshops and trade stands for traditional equipment craftsmen.
NAFA Annual Field Meet (North America):
The North American Falconers Association hosts a week-long field meet each winter in different open-country states (such as Wyoming, Kansas, or Texas), focusing on wild game hawking, legislative updates, and apprentice sponsorship.
Evolution
The tale of the evolution of falcons is one of fast adaptability and diversification over millions of years.
Where do falcons come from
Falcons are members of the Falconidae family, which include about 65 living species including falcons, kestrels, hobbies, falconets and caracaras.
Genetic and fossil data indicate that the Falconidae arose soon after the extinction of the dinosaurs, perhaps in the Paleocene (approximately 60–66 million years ago) in South America.
Evolutionary time scale
Time
evolutionary occurrence
Adaptations that evolved
Over millions of years, falcons developed several remarkable adaptations:
Exceptional speed: Streamlined bodies, long pointed wings, and powerful flight muscles made species like the peregrine falcon the fastest animals on Earth during hunting dives.
Specialized beak: Unlike hawks and eagles, falcons have a small notch on the beak called the tomial tooth, which helps quickly kill prey.
Superb vision Falcons have great vision and can see their prey from far away.
Powerful talons: Strong feet evolved to capture birds and small mammals in flight.
Surprising evolutionary connection
DNA tests suggest falcons, though they look like hawks and eagles, are not closely related to either. Rather, falcons are more closely linked to parrots and songbirds than to hawks or eagles. This convergence in evolution resulting in their comparable look to other birds of prey is an example of unrelated groups having similar adaptations because they occupy similar ecological niches.
Modern diversity
Today, the Falconidae family includes three major groups:
True falcons (Falco) — peregrine falcon, saker falcon, gyrfalcon, kestrels, hobbies.
Caracaras – intelligent, ground-feeding raptors found mainly in the Americas.
Forest falcons and the laughing falcon — species adapted to wooded settings.
Overall, falcons evolved from early predatory birds into one of the world’s most successful groups of aerial hunters, with rapid diversification driven by changing climates, expanding open habitats, and specialized hunting adaptations.
Type of Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon
The indisputable king of speed is the peregrine falcon. It is the fastest animal on the earth, capable of reaching speeds of 240 mph (389 km/h) in its trademark hunting dive, called the stoop.
Hunting Style
They hunt other birds in flight, hitting them with amazing accuracy.Peregrines are the most popular bird of prey in falconry all around the world. They are superb aerial acrobats and can be trained quite easily.
The Saker Falcon
The Saker Falcon, indigenous to the semi-deserts and vast grasslands of Eurasia, is designed for endurance and power, not pure dive speed.
Hunting Style
Sakers are proficient in horizontal chase, running down prey—both birds and ground mammals—over great distances.
Falconry Use
Popular in the Middle East. Their excellent heat tolerance and fierce resolve make them ideal for desert falconry.
Gyrfalcon
Gyrfalcons (pronounced “jer-falcons”) are the largest of all falcons. These giant birds breed on Arctic beaches and tundra and exist in several color variations from pure white to dark brown and silver.
Hunting Style
They employ their sheer size, muscle, and determination to exhaust their prey, often hunting huge birds such as ptarmigans and ducks.
Role in falconry
Gyrfalcons are very powerful and were formerly called the “bird of kings”. They need a very competent falconer and huge open spaces in which to fly right.
The Lanner Falcon
The Lanner Falcon is a little smaller and lighter than the Saker and occurs mostly in Africa and the Mediterranean region.
Role in falconry
Lanners have a very equable temperament and are eager to learn. This makes them one of the most recommended species for new falconers to hone their handling skills.
Hunting Style
They are very versatile hunters who often hunt in pairs in the wild.
The Merlin
Do not let their small size fool you; Merlins are aggressive, tenacious, and incredibly fast. These are tough little falcons with a big punch.
Hunting Style
They rely on speed and agility to outmaneuver small songbirds in high-speed, tail-chasing pursuits.
Role in Falconry
Merlins are highly specialized and are typically flown at smaller quarry. “They need a special kind of falconer to suit their high metabolism and lively style of flight.”
The Kestrel
The Kestrel (includes the Common Kestrel and the American Kestrel) are the smallest and most common falcons. They are easily identified by their stunning plumage and their unusual hunting methods.
Hunting Style
Kestrels are known for “hovering” in mid-air, searching the ground below for insects, rodents and small reptiles before diving down to strike.
Role in Falconry
The Kestrel is often the first bird that a new falconer will train. They are great for learning about weight management, training principles, and the daily routines of raptor care.
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