What was the most commonly used bird by falconers during the sixteenth century?

During the sixteenth century, falconrs predominantly favored the Peregrine falcon for a number of compelling reasons. First and foremost, Peregrine falcons are renowned for their exceptional speed and agility in flight, making them highly effective hunters. Their ability to dive at astonishing speeds, reaching over 200 mph in a stoop, made them formidable adversaries to various types of game, particularly birds in open landscapes.

In addition to their physical capabilities, the Peregrine falcon has a long history of association with nobility and sport hunting, particularly in Europe. Their popularity among aristocrats and the established traditions surrounding falconry during this period contributed to their prominence as the bird of choice. The elegant appearance of the Peregrine, combined with its hunting prowess, made it a symbol of status and skill in falconry.

Options such as the Red-tailed hawk, Harris' hawk, and Cooper's hawk, while valued in various forms of falconry today, did not reach the same level of prominence in the sixteenth century. Each of these species has its unique strengths and roles, but the cultural and historical context of falconry in that era uniquely positioned the Peregrine falcon as the most