What does it mean when a hawk is said to 'tower'?

When a hawk is said to 'tower,' it refers to the bird's ability to fly upward in a vertical manner, often gaining altitude. This behavior is commonly observed in various bird species, particularly during hunting or thermalling, where the bird uses rising columns of warm air to ascend higher into the sky without expending much energy.

In the context of falconry, understanding the behavior of a hawk when it towers is important for training and assessing its flight patterns. It indicates that the hawk is in a position to survey its surroundings or prepare for a hunt. The other options pertain to different behaviors or characteristics of hawks that do not accurately describe the specific action of 'towering.' These options illustrate various aspects of hawk behavior but do not capture the essence of what it means to tower in flight.