Birds of prey in zoos and falconry settings have specific behavioral needs tied to their aerial hunting lifestyle. Meeting these needs requires specialized management approaches.
Raptor welfare in captive settings is dominated by the management of flight — the defining behavioral and physiological adaptation of these birds. Tethering, historically the primary falconry management method, prevents flight entirely and creates welfare limitations that modern welfare science finds difficult to justify for long-term captive management. Free-loft housing allows flight behavior expression and is increasingly the standard for birds not in active falconry use. For working falconry birds, daily flight sessions during hunting or training provide the behavioral opportunity that tethered housing denies. Weight management — essential for health and for maintaining the hunger motivation required for falconry recall — must be careful to avoid underfeeding that impairs welfare. Welfare assessment for raptors uses behavioral indicators including flight quality, feather condition, feeding eagerness, and absence of stereotypic behaviors.