Falcons are raptors known for their incredible speed and aerial hunting prowess. Many species have specific, traditional names for their young, reflecting a stage of development or a historical connection. For birds of prey, the terminology for a chick is often nuanced. This article clarifies the specific, accepted term used for a young falcon and examines the different stages of its early life.
The Primary Term: Eyas
The most common and accepted term for a baby falcon is an eyas. This word refers to a young falcon or hawk that is still unfledged, meaning it has not yet developed the flight feathers necessary to leave the nest and fly. An eyas is typically covered in soft, white or grayish down, which is gradually replaced by juvenile feathers as it grows.
This stage is characterized by rapid growth, as the chick can double its weight in just the first five or six days after hatching. The term eyas is broadly used to describe the young bird throughout the approximately six weeks it spends in the nest, entirely dependent on its parents for food and protection. The word is rooted in the Latin nidus, meaning “nest,” highlighting its original meaning as a nestling.
Developmental Stages and Terminology
While eyas is the general term, a falcon’s early life is marked by distinct phases. Immediately after hatching, the chick is sometimes called a nestling. At this point, the bird is altricial, meaning it is born blind, weak, and completely reliant on the parents for warmth and feeding.
The eyas stage covers the period of rapid growth within the nest, from the initial downy phase to the development of juvenile plumage. During this time, the young bird practices vigorous wing-flapping exercises to build the muscle strength needed for flight. The final stage of dependence is the fledgling, which is the term used once the bird has successfully taken its first flight and left the nest. Although mobile, a fledgling remains reliant on the adult falcons for food for several weeks while it hones its flying and hunting techniques.
Historical Context in Falconry
The term eyas is deeply rooted in the ancient practice of falconry, the art of hunting with trained birds of prey. Historically, an eyas was defined as a young falcon taken from the nest to be hand-raised and trained by a falconer. This practice allowed the bird to become accustomed to human presence, making it a more manageable hunting partner.
Falconers traditionally used specific names to differentiate birds based on how they were acquired from the wild. An eyas was distinguished from a passager, a juvenile falcon trapped during its first year of migration. A haggard referred to a falcon captured after it had reached adult plumage, making it the most experienced but also the most difficult to train.