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Gyrfalcon

Gyrfalcon

Falco rusticolus

Identify the Gyrfalcon by sound or photo and log your sightings with Birdpass.

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The Gyrfalcon is the world's largest falcon and a powerful hunter of the far north. It breeds on Arctic and subarctic coasts, tundra and mountains across northern North America and Eurasia. Most birds are resident, but some wander widely in winter. Its plumage varies from almost pure white through silvery grey to dark brown, and females are much larger than males.

Did you know?

  • White Gyrfalcons are the only predominantly white falcons.
  • In falconry a male Gyrfalcon is called a “gyrkin”.

Voice

Sound

About the species

Identification

The largest falcon: very robust and “pot-bellied”, with broad, slightly round-tipped wings and a fairly long tail. Plumage varies from dark grey to very pale, almost white, often with fine barring on the back and underparts. Told from Peregrine by its larger size, heavier build and broader wings; the underwing usually looks paler and less patterned, and the moustache is weaker.

Family

Falconidae

Size

Very large (swan)

Colours

grey, white, brown

About the habitat

Open Arctic and subarctic landscapes – tundra, coastal cliffs and islands, and mountain slopes; in winter also sea coasts, estuaries and other open country.

Diet

Mainly medium-sized birds, especially ptarmigan, but also ducks, seabirds and gulls; occasionally mammals such as hares. It caches surplus prey.

Behaviour

A powerful pursuit hunter that often hugs the terrain and overtakes prey in long chases or short stoops. It usually nests on cliff ledges or in old Raven or raptor nests. Mostly resident in high latitudes, but disperses south in winter and can follow prey cycles.

Sources

Photo: Ólafur Larsen, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Falco rusticolus white cropped.jpg

Sound: Bubulcus, CC BY 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Falco_rusticolus.ogg

Text: Wikipedia (English) + FinBIF species descriptions, CC BY-SA 4.0; FinBIF: CC BY 4.0 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyrfalcon

See also