The Falconer gets his companion at level 1, albeit with half HPs until level 4.
Does this ranger have full progression on his companion? I would assume so since he can't have a companion at -3 effective level at level 1, and he loses his 6th level feat(I assume as a Boon Companion tax).
Otherwise his bird would progress in HD and Feats etc(with half HP)..then rewind at level 4 back to a first level companion, losing those feats etc. That doesn't seem right.
I just want to be sure before I commit to one as PFS character, since it's vague to me.