What is an eyass?

• A. Adult hawk
• B. A nest of eggs
• C. Young bird still in the nest
• D. A fledgling outside the nest

Answer: (C)

An eyass is a young hawk that is still in the nest. This term refers to the nest-bound stage after hatching but before fledging. The other options describe stages or states that aren’t in the nest: an adult hawk is fully grown, a nest of eggs is not a bird yet, and a fledgling outside the nest has already left and is learning to fly. Knowing these growth stages helps you identify what stage you’re dealing with when observing or handling raptors.