A falconer is "a person who keeps, trains, or hunts with falcons, hawks, or other birds of prey" (google definition). I've always been immensely interested in the practice. This list is for the falconers of the world, each of the flags depicting a specific bird of prey used in falconry.
1. Flag of Kazakhstan
The eagle on the flag of Kazakhstan is the Golden Eagle (also referred to as a steppe eagle, but it should not be confused with the true Steppe Eagle). It is referenced in a Kazakh proverb "There are three things a real man should have: a fast horse, a hound, and a golden eagle". The saying refers to berkutchy, the renowned Kazakh profession of hunting with the raptor. Medieval Europeans considered them to be the finest of the raptors and they were handled only by Emperors.
2. Flag of the Azores
The Flag of the Azores tells a rather humorous story. The title of the islands comes from the Portugese word 'açor', which translates to 'goshawk', the bird of prey illustrated on the flag. The name was adopted by early explorers because goshawks were supposedly very plentiful in the islands. As it turns out, the species was misidentified, goshawks not living in the Azores at all; the bird they saw was actually a type of buzzard. The flag, adopted in 1979, acknowledges and celebrates that error. There are several species of goshawks and they are among the most popular birds used in falconry.
3. Flag of Zambia
The African Fish Eagle, illustrated on the flag of Zambia, in reality looks very similar to a Bald Eagle. Not only is it the official national bird of Zambia, but also of Namibia, South Sudan and Zimbabwe. The eagle on the flag also represents the Zambians' ability to rise above all obstacles or problems their country faces. African Fish Eagles are used in falconry, but far less commonly than Golden Eagles.
4. Flag of Iowa, USA
The Bald Eagle, found on Iowa's flag, is the national bird of the USA and appears on several other state flags. As far as I know, it's illegal to use Bald Eagles for falconry in the USA, but they can be handled in Canada with a license. Fun fact about bald eagles taken from Guiness World Records: "The largest bird's nest was built by a pair of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and possibly their successors, near St Petersburg, Florida, USA and measured 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) wide and 6 m (20 ft) deep. It was examined in 1963 and was estimated to weigh more than two tonnes (4,409 lb)." Craziness.
5. Flag of Mexico
Like the flag of Kazakhstan, Mexico's flag (also found on the "Top 5 for Snake Charmers" list) has a depiction of the Golden Eagle, the country's national bird. The bird on the flag is chowing down on a snake, but its prey is not limited to snakes alone. The Golden Eagle is not a picky eater and has been witnessed feasting on nearly 200 different animal species. They are used in falconry to hunt a variety of game, even large game such as deer and wolves!
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