What should a lure for a red-tailed hawk resemble?

The lure used in falconry for training a red-tailed hawk should ideally resemble prey that the hawk naturally hunts. In this context, the most effective lure would closely mimic a winged prey or a small animal that is a typical part of their diet. Red-tailed hawks are known to hunt a variety of animals, including rodents and small birds, often catching them in the wild.

While various types of food might attract the hawk, specifying that the lure should resemble a more familiar prey item will enhance the training effectiveness. This specificity helps establish a stronger hunting instinct in the hawk and makes the training sessions more realistic. Properly designed lures that closely imitate the sensory cues of actual prey—like movement, size, and color—will be more engaging for the bird, ultimately leading to better training outcomes.