Falcon

Falcons are birds with wingspans of 16 to 20 inches; they stand about 1.5 to 2 feet tall and weigh about 3 pounds. These are the most popular of the hunting birds used by royalty. Falcons can only carry prey up to 1 pound. They will hunt snakes, small rodents, and even other birds such as wild ducks. Falcons appear in a variety of colors, typically ranging from dark gray on top to white with dark stripes on the bottom; kestrels, a variety of falcon, have reddish brown to dark brown feathers with dark stripes. A falcon typically attacks prey by diving, striking first with the talons before making the kill with its sharp beak.