Birds of prey in falconry and display contexts have specific welfare needs including flight exercise, appropriate diet, and freedom from chronic stress. Meeting these needs varies widely between operations.
Raptor welfare in captivity ranges from excellent in well-managed falconry to poor in some display contexts. A falconry bird that flies daily in natural hunting or exercise provides an example of welfare-positive raptor management — flight meets both physical exercise and behavioral needs, and the bird maintains appropriate weight and muscle condition. Display birds at visitor attractions that fly infrequently develop muscle atrophy, stereotypic behaviors, and may experience chronic stress from public proximity without the outlet of flight. Nutritional welfare requires whole prey items including fur and feather rather than lean meat alone. Perch surface quality is welfare-critical — inappropriate surfaces cause bumblefoot, a painful chronic infection, that may progress to require amputation in neglected cases.