Hawk, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

The hawk is a fascinating bird known more for its spirit and tenacity than its physical claws. Its name, accĭpĭtĕr, stems from the Latin verbs accĭpĭo (to grasp) and căpĭo (to seize), highlighting its keen ability to capture prey. Though it eagerly hunts other birds, it can also be symbolic of predation and cunning, much like Paul’s teachings about enduring suffering when someone takes from you—not merely seizes, but takes away what is yours.

While hawks can be tamed to assist humans in hunting, they are notably harsh with their own eyases, pushing them to fend for themselves by forcefully expelling them from the nest once they are able to fly. This behaviour ensures the eyases do not become lazy or overly dependent on others for sustenance.

In a broader moral context, the hawk's dual nature mirrors individuals who, despite appearing calm or peaceful, are involved in predatory or unethical behaviour, particularly in association with the greedy and powerful. Consequently, in Leviticus, hawks are listed among unclean birds, reflecting their nature in the spiritual law.

Thus, just as the hawk's behaviour serves as a cautionary symbol, those who engage in spiritual contemplation yet focus on earthly gains should avoid imitating such duplicity. Birds like the hawk, sea eagle and hobby, known for their predatory habits, are deemed unclean, symbolising a call to examine one’s true nature and intentions.

Accipiter est avis animo plus armata; quam
ungulis. virtutem maiorem in minori corpo-
re gestans. et dicitur ab accipiendo et a capien-
do. Est autem avis rapiendis aliis avibus avida. ac-
cipiter enim dicitur. id est raptor. Unde et paulus
dicit. Sustinetis enim si quis accipit vos. Un enim
diceret. si quis rapit; dixit. Si quis accipit. hec
avis fera est; sed mansuescit. et rapinam cum
hominiubs operatur. Fertur autem circa pullos su-
os impius esse. Nam dum viderit eos posse temp-
tare volatus; nullas eis prebet escas. sed verbe-
rat pennis. et a nido precipitat. atque a tenero;
compellit ad predam. ne forte adulti pigrescant.
ne solvantur delitiis. ne marcescant otio.
ne discant cibum magis expectare; quam que-
rere. Accipiter qui mansuescit et cum hominibus
rapinam operatur; est qui mansuete vivere(added) videtur;
set cum rapacibus et potentibus et avaris rape-
re nititur. Unde in levitico accipiter iuxta
genus suum inter aves inmundas reputatur.

The hawk is a bird more armed by its spirit than by its talons, possessing greater power in a smaller body. It is called accĭpĭtĕr from the verbs accĭpĭo, grasping, and căpĭo, seizing. The hawk is eager to seize other birds; therefore, it is called raptor[1]. As Paul says, 'You suffer if someone takes from you.'[2] He would not have said 'if someone seizes'; he said 'if someone takes.' This bird is wild but becomes tame and helps humans with hunting. However, it is said to be cruel towards its eyases. When it sees that they are able to fly, it does not provide them with any food but strikes them with its wings and throws them out of the nest. From a young age, it forces them to hunt lest they become lazy or indulgent in their youth and learn to expect food instead of earning it. The hawk that becomes tame and helps humans with hunting represents those who appear to live peacefully but strive to take from others in the company of greedy and powerful individuals. Hence, in Leviticus, the hawk is enumerated among the unclean birds according to its kind.

Contemplativus enim cuius lectio est. in celis. et
vita in terrenis lucris; imitandus non est.
Et bene dicit iuxta genus suum. quia alietus qui
dicitur gallice hobel. vel falco qui incurvos
habet digitos. et omnes huiusmodi aves quibus
alie aves capriuntur; inmunde sunt sed legem.

For the contemplative whose lesson is in heaven, and life in earthly gains; it is not to be imitated. And he says well according to his kind, because the bird which is called in French the hobel, or the hawk which has crooked fingers, and all such birds by which other birds are caught, are unclean but the law.

Further Reading

David Badke, The Bestiary Blog: Animals in the Middle Ages, Hawk, November 6 2023, https://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast249.htm

Mynott, J, Birds in the Ancient World (New York: Oxford University Press 2018)

Josh Goldenberg (BA 2012) and Matt Shanahan (BA 2014), Logeion, November 2022, https://logeion.uchicago.edu/

Castiglioni, L. and Mariotti, S. (1996). Vocabolario della Lingua Latina: Latino-Italiano Italiano-Latino. Terza Edizione. Loescher Torino

Curley, M. J., Physiologus: A Medieval Book of Nature Lore (University of Chicago edition 2009)

Rackham, H., M.A., Pliny Natural History Volume III, Libri VIII-XI (London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1949)

Collins, A. H., M.A., Symbolism of Animals and Birds (New York: McBride, Nast & Company, 1913)

Henderson, C., The Book of Barely Imagined Beings (London: University of Chicago Press, 2013)

White, T. H., The Bestiary: A Book of Beasts (New York: G.P Putnam’s Sons, 1960)

Matthews, J. and Matthews C., The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures: The Ultimate A-Z of fantastic beings from myth and magic (London: HarperElement, 2005)

Barney, S. A., Lewis, W. J., Beach A., Berghof O., The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006)

Endnotes

[1] Raptor comes from the verb răpĭo, is, răpŭi, raptum, ĕre meaning to seize, to capture, to snatch.

[2] Corinthians 2 NKJV, 11:20: For you put up with it zif one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.