What stage is a hawk in when it is capable of flying?

A hawk is referred to as a fledgling when it is capable of flying. This stage occurs after the chick has matured and developed enough flight feathers to take its first flights. During the fledgling stage, the young hawk leaves the nest and begins to practice flying, honing its skills and learning flight techniques that are crucial for hunting and survival.

While branchers do begin to leave the nest and may flap their wings, they are often still dependent on their parents for food and haven’t yet mastered sustained flight. The chick stage signifies a very early period of development, where the bird is still confined to the nest, relying entirely on parental care. A subadult is a term used to describe hawks that are not yet fully mature but have surpassed the fledgling phase, exhibiting skills and behaviors consistent with young adults. Therefore, the fledgling stage is the appropriate choice to indicate when a hawk has the ability to fly independently.