Legal Falconry Species in Florida
Complete list of raptor species legal for falconry in Florida
Information provided for reference only. Always verify with official sources before making decisions. Regulations may have changed since this information was last updated.
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Species List
Showing 27 of 27 species
| Species | Experience Level | Permit Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
American Kestrel Falco sparverius |
General |
Florida Falconry Permit |
General and Master falconers only. NOT allowed for apprentices (not in 68A-9.005(4)(a)4 list). Nativ... |
Barn Owl Tyto alba |
General |
Florida Falconry Permit |
General and Master falconers only. NOT allowed for apprentices. Native to FL year-round (open areas,... |
Barred Owl Strix varia |
General |
Florida Falconry Permit |
General and Master falconers only. NOT allowed for apprentices. Native to FL year-round (common in f... |
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus |
Apprentice |
Florida Falconry Permit |
All experience levels. APPRENTICE: May possess only ONE wild-caught (68A-9.005(4)(a)4). Apprentices ... |
Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii |
General |
Florida Falconry Permit |
General and Master falconers only. NOT allowed for apprentices. Native to FL year-round. Allowed per... |
Ferruginous Hawk Buteo regalis |
General |
Florida Falconry Permit |
General and Master falconers only. NOT allowed for apprentices. Not native to FL (rare winter visito... |
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos |
Master |
Florida Falconry Permit + Experience Documentation |
Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General (68A-9.005(4)(b)4). Requires 1,000+ hours ... |
Great Gray Owl Strix nebulosa |
General |
Florida Falconry Permit |
General and Master falconers only. NOT allowed for apprentices. Accidental visitor to FL (very rare ... |
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus |
General |
Florida Falconry Permit |
General and Master falconers only. NOT allowed for apprentices. Native to FL year-round (common, wid... |
Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus |
General |
Florida Falconry Permit |
General and Master falconers only. NOT allowed for apprentices. Not native to FL (rare winter visito... |
Harris's Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus |
General |
Florida Falconry Permit |
General and Master falconers only. NOT allowed for apprentices. Not native to FL - captive-bred only... |
Long-eared Owl Asio otus |
General |
Florida Falconry Permit |
General and Master falconers only. NOT allowed for apprentices. Native to FL (winter visitor, rare).... |
Merlin Falco columbarius |
Apprentice |
Florida Falconry Permit |
All experience levels. APPRENTICE: May possess only ONE wild-caught (68A-9.005(4)(a)4). Apprentices ... |
Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis |
General |
Florida Falconry Permit |
General and Master falconers only. NOT allowed for apprentices. Rare in FL (rare winter visitor). Al... |
Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius |
General |
Florida Falconry Permit |
General and Master falconers only. NOT allowed for apprentices. Native to FL (winter resident, migra... |
Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus |
General |
Florida Falconry Permit |
General and Master falconers only. NOT allowed for apprentices. Rare winter visitor to FL (very smal... |
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus |
General |
Florida Falconry Permit + Special Take Permit (for wild take) |
General and Master falconers only. NOT allowed for apprentices. Native to FL (urban breeding populat... |
Prairie Falcon Falco mexicanus |
General |
Florida Falconry Permit |
General and Master falconers only. NOT allowed for apprentices. Not native to FL (rare vagrant). All... |
Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus |
Apprentice |
Florida Falconry Permit |
All experience levels. APPRENTICE: May possess only ONE wild-caught (68A-9.005(4)(a)4). Apprentices ... |
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis |
Apprentice |
Florida Falconry Permit |
All experience levels. APPRENTICE: May possess only ONE wild-caught red-tailed hawk, red-shouldered ... |
Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus |
General |
Florida Falconry Permit |
General and Master falconers only. NOT allowed for apprentices. Rare winter visitor to FL from Arcti... |
Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus |
General |
Florida Falconry Permit |
General and Master falconers only. NOT allowed for apprentices. Native to FL (winter visitor/migrant... |
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus |
General |
Florida Falconry Permit |
General and Master falconers only. NOT allowed for apprentices. Rare winter visitor to FL. Allowed p... |
Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus |
General |
Florida Falconry Permit |
General and Master falconers only. NOT allowed for apprentices. Rare winter visitor to FL from Arcti... |
Steller's Sea Eagle Haliaeetus pelagicus |
Master |
Florida Falconry Permit + Experience Documentation |
Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General (68A-9.005(4)(b)4). Not native to FL (capt... |
Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni |
General |
Florida Falconry Permit (Captive-bred only) |
General and Master falconers only. NOT allowed for apprentices. Native to western US, rare migrant t... |
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla |
Master |
Florida Falconry Permit + Experience Documentation |
Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General (68A-9.005(4)(b)4). Not native to FL (capt... |