Bells, Swivels & Leashes
“Furniture” is the traditional term for equipment worn by or used directly with the hawk. These three pieces keep your bird secure and findable, and their designs have been refined over centuries.
Falconry furniture represents centuries of refined design for a reason: each piece serves a specific safety and handling function. Using the wrong jess type can kill your bird. A poorly fitted bell adds weight without providing useful sound. A weak swivel becomes a single point of failure between you and a lost hawk. Understanding why each piece exists and selecting quality versions designed for your specific bird species is not optional perfectionism; it is a fundamental responsibility of ethical falconry practice.
Updated
This guide covers the hardware that clips to your bird. The glove and jesses have their own guides: falconry gloves and jesses and anklets. For everything else a new falconer needs, see the falconry equipment list.
Bells
Bells are your acoustic tracking system—when you can hear the bird, you know roughly where it is. They also indicate when the bird is moving or feeding.
Bell Placement
- Leg bells: Attached with a bewit (leather strap); most common
- Tail bells: Mounted on central tail feathers; louder when flying
- Combination: Many falconers use both for redundancy
Bell Selection
- Size: Proportional to the bird—too heavy affects flight
- Tone: Each bell sounds different; learn yours
- Quality: Cheap bells break or go silent; buy from falconry suppliers
- Attachment: Secure but not so tight it causes injury
Popular Bell Types
Swivels & Leashes
Swivels
The swivel connects jesses to leash, allowing the bird to turn without tangling:
- Quality matters: A broken swivel can mean a lost bird
- Size matching: Use appropriate size for your bird
- Stainless steel: Resists rust and maintains strength
- Regular inspection: Check for wear, replace if in doubt
Leashes
The leash secures the bird to perch or your glove:
- Length: Long enough for comfort, short enough for control
- Material: Leather or Biothane (synthetic, waterproof)
- Falconer’s knot: Learn the quick-release knot used with leashes
How much do bells, swivels and leashes cost?
Not much, next to the rest of your kit. At two US falconry suppliers on September 13, 2026, new bells listed at $11–$35, swivels at $4–$27 and leashes at $11–$24. Buy a quality swivel even if you save elsewhere: it is the one link between your bird and the perch.
Assemble your complete furniture set before acquiring your bird and test every component together. Thread jesses through anklets, attach the swivel, tie the leash, and practice the falconer's knot until it becomes muscle memory. Learn to tie the knot one-handed while holding jesses in the other. When selecting bells, listen to several before buying. You need to recognize your bird's bell sound at a distance and distinguish it from other environmental sounds. Size your swivel to match your bird's power, as an undersized swivel for a large buteo is a recipe for equipment failure.
Quality & Sources
Falconry equipment should be purchased from established falconry suppliers:
- Quality control: Falconry-specific suppliers understand what works
- Proper sizing: Equipment sized for specific species
- Safety: Designs proven over generations of use
- Support: Knowledgeable staff who can advise
Starter Set
- ✓ Aylmeri anklets and jesses (see the jesses guide)
- ✓ Stainless steel swivel sized for your bird
- ✓ Leather or Biothane leash
- ✓ Leg bells on bewits (one or two)
New, jesses, a swivel, a leash and bells come to about $35–$126 at two US suppliers (September 13, 2026).
Inspect all furniture components before every training session and hunt. Run your fingers along jesses to feel for cracks, stiffness, or thinning that eyes might miss. Check swivel rotation freely by spinning it. Listen to bells to ensure they still ring clearly, since dirt or corrosion can muffle the sound. Replace leather furniture items on a schedule rather than waiting for visible failure. Condition leather pieces weekly during active use. Store unused furniture in a cool, dry location. Keep a complete backup set of all furniture items ready for immediate use.
Expert Tips
Size your swivel to your bird’s strength: an undersized swivel on a large hawk is a single point of failure. Stainless steel resists rust and keeps its strength. For bells, choose the lightest pair you can still hear at a distance in the cover you hunt, and keep the old pair as spares.
Common Questions
Falconers often ask how many bells a bird needs. Many fly a hawk with one or two leg bells on bewits and add a tail bell for birds that hunt in thick cover, where leg bells can be muffled. Swivels and leashes are worth replacing on a schedule rather than when they fail, and a spare of each belongs in the hawking bag.
Historical Context
Bells and jesses are among the oldest pieces of falconry equipment. Medieval falconry treatises describe hawks flown with bells and jesses much like those in use today, and a swivel has long joined the jesses to the leash.
Common questions
What is falconry furniture?
In falconry, 'furniture' refers to all the equipment attached to or used directly with the bird: jesses, anklets, bells, bewits (leather strips for attaching bells), leash, swivel, and the creance line. The term is traditional and distinguishes bird equipment from housing and field gear.
How much do falconry bells cost?
At two US falconry suppliers on September 13, 2026, new bells listed at $11–$35. Price follows size and material. Choose bells sized for your bird, learn their tone, and fit them with bewits.
What are bells used for in falconry?
Bells are attached to the bird's legs or tail to help locate it in dense cover during hunting. Each bell has a unique tone so falconers can identify their bird by sound. Traditional brass bells are most common. Tail-mounted bells are popular for hawks that hunt in heavy brush.