Gloves, Bells & Jesses
"Furniture" is the traditional term for equipment worn by or directly used with the hawk. These basics have been refined over centuries—there’s a reason the designs persist.
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.
The Falconry Glove
Your primary interface with the bird. The glove protects your hand from talons while giving you control and the bird a stable platform.
Glove Selection
- Weight matching: Heavier leather for larger birds, lighter for smaller
- Fit: Snug but not tight; you need dexterity
- Length: Red-tails and Harris’s typically need forearm coverage
- Material: Quality leather (deerskin, cowhide, kangaroo)
Single Layer
For kestrels and smaller birds. Better feel and dexterity. Not enough protection for larger hawks.
$40-80
Double Layer
Standard for Red-tails and Harris’s Hawks. Good balance of protection and flexibility.
$60-120
Heavy Duty
For Goshawks, large falcons, and eagles. Maximum protection, less dexterity.
$100-200+
Left vs. Right
Most falconers carry on the left hand (dominant hand free). But either works—consistency matters more than convention.
Jesses
Jesses are the leather straps attached to the bird’s legs. They’re how you maintain control and secure the bird to perch or glove.
Types of Jesses
Aylmeri Jesses (Recommended)
The modern standard. Consists of a permanent anklet with a grommet, through which removable jess straps pass. When flying, you remove the straps—only the short anklet remains, dramatically reducing snag risk.
Traditional Jesses
One-piece leather straps that remain attached at all times. Simple but dangerous—the long ends can snag on branches. Rarely recommended today.
Critical Safety
A bird that snags a traditional jess in a tree will hang and die. Aylmeri-style jesses with removable straps should be considered mandatory for any bird flown free. Many experienced falconers have lost birds to jess snags before Aylmeris became standard.
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
Other Furniture
Hood
Covers the bird’s eyes to keep it calm. Not used with all species—common with falcons, less so with Red-tails. Requires proper fitting.
Bewit
Small leather strap used to attach bells, transmitters, or other items to the bird’s leg.
Bag/Vest
Falconry bag or vest carries food, lures, glove, and other equipment in the field. Many pockets, hands-free design.
Lure
Leather-padded weight swung to call the bird back. Garnished with food. Essential training and recovery tool.
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 Kit Summary
- ✓ Quality glove (sized for your bird)
- ✓ Aylmeri anklets + jess straps
- ✓ Stainless steel swivel
- ✓ Leather or Biothane leash
- ✓ Leg bells (1-2)
- ✓ Falconry bag or vest
- ✓ Lure
Budget: $150-300 for basic quality furniture
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.
learnEquipment.furniture.expertTipsTitle
Match your perch type to your species. Buteos and large hawks prefer flat block perches or bow perches that allow them to grip with their talons spread. Falcons traditionally use round block perches. Accipiters need a perch high enough that their long tails do not contact the ground or perch surface. Whatever perch style you choose, the covering material should provide secure footing without abrading the bird’s feet, so avoid bare metal or smooth plastic surfaces.
learnEquipment.furniture.commonQuestionsTitle
Falconers frequently ask how many perches they need. At minimum, you need an indoor perch for the mews, an outdoor perch for the weathering area, and a portable perch for field use and transport. Many falconers add a bathroom perch for daily weighing and maintenance. The total investment for a basic perch setup is typically $100 to $300, though experienced craftsmen often build their own from PVC, wood, and AstroTurf for a fraction of commercial prices.
learnEquipment.furniture.historicalContextTitle
Falconry furniture, the collective term for perches, blocks, and related equipment, appears in the earliest known falconry treatises from medieval Europe and the Middle East. Frederick II’s ‘De Arte Venandi cum Avibus,’ written in the 13th century, includes detailed descriptions and illustrations of perch designs that are remarkably similar to those used today. The ring perch, bow perch, and block perch have remained fundamentally unchanged in design for over seven hundred years.