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Gyrfalcons are the largest and most massive of all falcons. Females are taller and heavier than males, but otherwise the sexes are indistinguishable. Like many other falcon species, Gyrfalcons have different morphs as adaptations to their local habitat, with gradations in between those. The colour of the plumage on their back and/or head can range from plain-white to dark-brown and even black. The front is white with dark specks for all morphologies. The head shows the typical "tear drop" pattern of many falcon species. The cere and thin eye-rings are yellow; the bill is light grey, with a darker grey tip. The legs and feet are yellow, with black talons.

The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org .

The global distribution of the Gyrfalcon is available HERE .

Gyrfalcons are found on all northern continents and islands around the Arctic circle, at geographic latitudes ranging from about 40 to 85 degrees (North America) and ca. 50-70 degrees (Eurasia, Iceland, Greenland). During the breeding season they are in the northern part of their range; they reach the southern parts during dispersal or as vagrants.

In Europe Gyrfalcons are found as permanent residents in northern Scandinavia, in the highlands of northern Norway, Sweden and Finland. During the winter months, they can disperse southwards. They are found around the Baltic Sea and, as vagrants, along the North Sea coastline of continental Europe, and in parts of Britain and Ireland.

Gyrfalcons breed on Arctic coasts and tundra. During their dispersal they go into more diverse habitats, but in Eurasia are still often found near coastlines.

We have not seen a Gyrfalcon in nature yet. The photo shown below, kindly contributed by H. Dahlem-Senger, was taken in captivity.