(NY) Falconry Practice Exam
Questions With Revised Correct
Detailed Answers With Rationales
Guaranteed Pass
1) "Deck" feathers are... a. the central pair of tail feathers b. the
feather tuft on top of a falcon's hood. c. the feathers used in
imping a broken tail or wing feathers d. the row of feathers which
run down the wing above the primaries and secondaries -
ANSWER Ans. a the central pair of tail feathers
2) A good indication of completed growth in eyases is when the bird
is... a. full summed b. hard penned c. both a and b d. b but not a -
ANSWER Ans. c Hard-penned and full summed are
synonymous. They mean that the blood has withdrawn from the
newly grown large feathers of the wings and tail, and that the
feathers have hardened.
3) Your bird is likely to "mantle"... a. when in active pursuit of quarry
b. when standing over quarry c. both a and b d. neither a nor b -
ANSWER Ans. b The term "mantle" is used to describe both a)
the stretching of one wing and one leg on the same side, which is
an indication that the bird is relaxed and contented, and b) the
spreading of wings and tail over food or quarry, which is a
defensive behavior used to conceal food from other animals.
,4) A bird that is very comfortable with its surroundings and has a full
crop is likely to... a. gorge b. hack c. rouse d. rangle - ANSWER
Ans. c "Rouse" is an action common to all birds in which all the
feathers are slowly erected, the bird shakes itself and the feather
then slowly settle back into place. It is considered a sign of
tameness and well-being. "Gorge" is permitting a hawk to eat all it
can, until it refuses to eat more. "Hack" is the state of complete
liberty sometimes permitted to eyases during the first few weeks
after they can fly. "Rangle" pertains to small stones given orally to
a hawk
5) A bird is likely to "preen"... a. following a bath b. when it is
content c. both a and b d. neither a nor b - ANSWER Ans. c
"Preening" describes a birds' behavior in straightening and
dressing its feathers. It is a sign of a well-adjusted raptor. A bird
will often preen following a bath, or when it is content and
comfortable.
6) "Cast" means... a. the act of disgorging a pellet of fur, feathers,
bones, or all three b. two falcons flown together c. to hold or
wrap a hawk so as to prevent movement d. all of the above -
ANSWER Ans. d All are correct. A casting is the indigestible
portions of a raptor's meal, usually the bones and feathers of their
prey, which are formed into a compact pellet and disgorged
through the mouth. The word, "cast," is also used to mean two
raptors of the same species flown together, of either sex. One also
"casts" a bird to immobilize it.
,7) The medieval falconer was most likely to "enseam" his or her bird...
a. when it was hood shy b. immediately after capturing the bird c. when
the bird was too fat d. when the bird was sharp-set - ANSWER Ans.
c "Enseam" means to prepare a hawk for flying by eliminating her
reserves of fat. Today it may refer to the practice of feeding washed
meat. The medieval term referred to certain purges (e.g. rangle) given
to a hawk which were supposed to rid it of excess fat and mucus, thus
making it more eager to fly.
8) A hawk or falcon is most likely to "put over" its crop... a. when
entering a stoop b. while being entered on new quarry c. just before
eating d. just after eating - ANSWER Ans. d To "put over" a crop is
the action of a raptor when, by movements of the neck and shoulders,
it forces food from the crop into the stomach. A crop has been "put
away" when all the food in the crop has been moved into the stomach.
9) A bird is most likely to "feak"... a. just before making a kill b. just
after taking a bath c. just after a meal d. just before breaking in -
ANSWER Ans. c To "feak" is the action of a raptor wiping its beak
against the perch or on the glove after feeding
10) True or false: The term "austringer" refers to one who normally flies
passage falcons rather than eyases. - ANSWER Ans. False
"Austringer" means one who keeps and hunts with the accipiters. It is
derived from the Latin "aster," the former generic name for the
Goshawk.
, 11) A passager or passage hawk is... a. any raptor taken on migration b.
a raptor taken on its first migration c. any intermewed raptor d. none of
the above - ANSWER Ans. b A passager is a raptor captured on its
first southward migration, hence a bird in the immature plumage and
therefore of known age. First-year birds captured in nonmigratory
situations are also called passagers.
True or false: It is desirable that your bird "crab" after striking a quarry.
- ANSWER Ans. False "Crabbing" is a clash or fight between falcons
or hawks. Sometimes it happens in the air, sometimes on the ground
over captured quarry.
The word "strike" used by a falconer means... a. the instant of contact
between a hunting raptor and either quarry or lure b. loosening the
braces or removing the hood c. both a and b d. neither a nor b -
ANSWER Ans. c "Strike" has several meanings. It is used to describe
the moment of impact. "Striking the braces" is the act of loosening the
braces of a hood. "Striking the hood" is the act of removing the hood
from the hawk or falcon.
The phrase "rake away" is used to mean... a. to abandon the flight and
careen away b. a falcon flying low to the ground c. the cutting down of
a swift flying quarry by a slashing strike-and-pass by the Goshawk d.
none of the above - ANSWER Ans. a "Rake away" is used to
describe a flight at quarry or to the falconer that is aborted. The bird
Questions With Revised Correct
Detailed Answers With Rationales
Guaranteed Pass
1) "Deck" feathers are... a. the central pair of tail feathers b. the
feather tuft on top of a falcon's hood. c. the feathers used in
imping a broken tail or wing feathers d. the row of feathers which
run down the wing above the primaries and secondaries -
ANSWER Ans. a the central pair of tail feathers
2) A good indication of completed growth in eyases is when the bird
is... a. full summed b. hard penned c. both a and b d. b but not a -
ANSWER Ans. c Hard-penned and full summed are
synonymous. They mean that the blood has withdrawn from the
newly grown large feathers of the wings and tail, and that the
feathers have hardened.
3) Your bird is likely to "mantle"... a. when in active pursuit of quarry
b. when standing over quarry c. both a and b d. neither a nor b -
ANSWER Ans. b The term "mantle" is used to describe both a)
the stretching of one wing and one leg on the same side, which is
an indication that the bird is relaxed and contented, and b) the
spreading of wings and tail over food or quarry, which is a
defensive behavior used to conceal food from other animals.
,4) A bird that is very comfortable with its surroundings and has a full
crop is likely to... a. gorge b. hack c. rouse d. rangle - ANSWER
Ans. c "Rouse" is an action common to all birds in which all the
feathers are slowly erected, the bird shakes itself and the feather
then slowly settle back into place. It is considered a sign of
tameness and well-being. "Gorge" is permitting a hawk to eat all it
can, until it refuses to eat more. "Hack" is the state of complete
liberty sometimes permitted to eyases during the first few weeks
after they can fly. "Rangle" pertains to small stones given orally to
a hawk
5) A bird is likely to "preen"... a. following a bath b. when it is
content c. both a and b d. neither a nor b - ANSWER Ans. c
"Preening" describes a birds' behavior in straightening and
dressing its feathers. It is a sign of a well-adjusted raptor. A bird
will often preen following a bath, or when it is content and
comfortable.
6) "Cast" means... a. the act of disgorging a pellet of fur, feathers,
bones, or all three b. two falcons flown together c. to hold or
wrap a hawk so as to prevent movement d. all of the above -
ANSWER Ans. d All are correct. A casting is the indigestible
portions of a raptor's meal, usually the bones and feathers of their
prey, which are formed into a compact pellet and disgorged
through the mouth. The word, "cast," is also used to mean two
raptors of the same species flown together, of either sex. One also
"casts" a bird to immobilize it.
,7) The medieval falconer was most likely to "enseam" his or her bird...
a. when it was hood shy b. immediately after capturing the bird c. when
the bird was too fat d. when the bird was sharp-set - ANSWER Ans.
c "Enseam" means to prepare a hawk for flying by eliminating her
reserves of fat. Today it may refer to the practice of feeding washed
meat. The medieval term referred to certain purges (e.g. rangle) given
to a hawk which were supposed to rid it of excess fat and mucus, thus
making it more eager to fly.
8) A hawk or falcon is most likely to "put over" its crop... a. when
entering a stoop b. while being entered on new quarry c. just before
eating d. just after eating - ANSWER Ans. d To "put over" a crop is
the action of a raptor when, by movements of the neck and shoulders,
it forces food from the crop into the stomach. A crop has been "put
away" when all the food in the crop has been moved into the stomach.
9) A bird is most likely to "feak"... a. just before making a kill b. just
after taking a bath c. just after a meal d. just before breaking in -
ANSWER Ans. c To "feak" is the action of a raptor wiping its beak
against the perch or on the glove after feeding
10) True or false: The term "austringer" refers to one who normally flies
passage falcons rather than eyases. - ANSWER Ans. False
"Austringer" means one who keeps and hunts with the accipiters. It is
derived from the Latin "aster," the former generic name for the
Goshawk.
, 11) A passager or passage hawk is... a. any raptor taken on migration b.
a raptor taken on its first migration c. any intermewed raptor d. none of
the above - ANSWER Ans. b A passager is a raptor captured on its
first southward migration, hence a bird in the immature plumage and
therefore of known age. First-year birds captured in nonmigratory
situations are also called passagers.
True or false: It is desirable that your bird "crab" after striking a quarry.
- ANSWER Ans. False "Crabbing" is a clash or fight between falcons
or hawks. Sometimes it happens in the air, sometimes on the ground
over captured quarry.
The word "strike" used by a falconer means... a. the instant of contact
between a hunting raptor and either quarry or lure b. loosening the
braces or removing the hood c. both a and b d. neither a nor b -
ANSWER Ans. c "Strike" has several meanings. It is used to describe
the moment of impact. "Striking the braces" is the act of loosening the
braces of a hood. "Striking the hood" is the act of removing the hood
from the hawk or falcon.
The phrase "rake away" is used to mean... a. to abandon the flight and
careen away b. a falcon flying low to the ground c. the cutting down of
a swift flying quarry by a slashing strike-and-pass by the Goshawk d.
none of the above - ANSWER Ans. a "Rake away" is used to
describe a flight at quarry or to the falconer that is aborted. The bird
