Falconry is practiced across the world with raptors including hawks, falcons, and eagles. Welfare standards in falconry vary enormously, from best-practice standards to deeply problematic keeping conditions.
Falconry welfare ranges from excellent — practiced by dedicated falconers who provide extensive free flight, appropriate housing, and skilled veterinary care — to deeply inadequate in contexts where birds are kept as status symbols with minimal exercise and poor husbandry. The fundamental welfare requirement for any captive raptor is adequate flight opportunity: birds that cannot fly regularly suffer musculoskeletal deconditioning, feather damage, and psychological deterioration. Traditional tethering practices that restrict movement for extended periods are a significant welfare concern. Wild capture for falconry — practiced legally in some regions — imposes acute stress during training and should be replaced by captive breeding wherever possible. Best practice falconry, with substantial free flight, appropriate housing, and skilled veterinary care, can provide an acceptable welfare standard for birds maintained within its tradition.