Ranger Falconer companion confusion.

[Ferrums]

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.

[Suthainn]

The archetype specifically calls out this ability as functioning the same way as the druids Animal Companion gained via its Nature Bond class ability, thus this advances the AC at the same level as a Druids companion would, so yes, you get a full Ranger level AC in return for the feat tax.

[Majuba]

Wow... I was about to correct the above, but you're quite right - thank you both.