Hawks/Falcons

[andrea chen]

rc...@my-deja.com wrote in message <8sn8sh$7qr$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>...
>Falcon/Hawk
>I understand that narrow definitions of these terms places them in
>different families (Accipitridae and Falconidae); however, am I right
>in thinking that for a falconer there is a wider definition of 'hawk'
>to refer to any of the birds of prey used in falconry, including birds
>narrowly defined as falcons?

Yes, and "falcon" is sometimes used that way also. "Falcon" is also
sometimes used to refer to a female raptor, but as this is sure to get
pretty confusing, I'd kind of recommend keeping out our more casual uses of
various words and just leave it at "'hawk' is sometimes used as a generic
term for any raptor used in falconry."

>Could you also tell me whether 'tiercal' (or 'tercal') refers only to
>male falcons and not to male hawks (in the narrow definition)?

Tiercel (there are lots of different spellings as it's an ancient word) does
refer to both male falcons and male hawks in modern usage.
(other sp's: Tarcel, tercel. That C is pronounced as an S so having an E
after is is necessary.)
-andrea-

[Tim Naylor]

>
> >Could you also tell me whether 'tiercal' (or 'tercal') refers only to
> >male falcons and not to male hawks (in the narrow definition)?
>
> Tiercel (there are lots of different spellings as it's an ancient word)
does
> refer to both male falcons and male hawks in modern usage.
> (other sp's: Tarcel, tercel. That C is pronounced as an S so having an E
> after is is necessary.)
> -andrea-
>

Andrea is right as far as a Tiercel refers to a male. From what I can find
out, the term should only belong to a male peregrine, in it's original use.
However, modern day useage means that it is now used to denote a male of
most species.

Note I did not put falcon after peregrine, as 'Falcon' should be read as a
purely female term.

Kind regards,

Tim

[Paul]

Tiercel comes from a french word meaning a third, as in most cases the male
is a smaller than the female, or falcon.

Most people I fly with, do call true hawks and falcons tiercels.

[adrian williams]

Andrea is correct, specifically if you say 'Falcon' you are taken to mean a
female Peregrine. Anything else should be qualified i.e if a female
Prairie you would say a 'Prairie Falcon', bearing in mind that many falcons
have a specific name for each gender: Gyrfalcon or Jerkin, Saker or Sakret,
Lanner, Lanneret. cheers, Ade.

Tim Naylor <Be...@btinternet.com> wrote in article
<8sng88$ii7$1...@neptunium.btinternet.com>...