A type of bird of prey with thin, tapered wings, which enable them to fly at high speed and change direction rapidly. This group of about 40 species includes kestrels, hobbies, merlins, gyrfalcons and peregrine falcons. Unlike hawks and eagles, falcons kill prey with their beaks, which have a tooth-like ridge.
A male falcon is called a tiercel (British spelling: tercel); downy chicks are eyas.
The technique of hunting with trained captive birds of prey is known as falconry.
The Japanese word for falcon, ハヤブサ, is a synonym for the peregrine falcon. Kestrels are チョウゲンボウ (chōgenbō).
