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6

Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) Alternate name(s): "Gyr" German name(s): "Gerfalke", "Jagdfalke", "Gierfalke" Size: 48-61 cm (male); 51-65 cm (female) wing span 1.1-1.3 m (male); 1.25-1.6 m (female) Weight: 0.8-1.35 kg (male), 1.2-2.1 kg (female)

Europe: Family Group 6 Family Group 6 Table Lammergeier Eurasian Black Vulture Griffon Vulture Rueppell's Vulture Egyptian Vulture Osprey White-tailed Eagle Golden Eagle Spanish Imperial Eagle Short-toed Snake Eagle Bonelli's Eagle Booted Eagle Red Kite Black Kite European Honey Buzzard Common Buzzard Rough-legged Buzzard Long-legged Buzzard Western Marsh Harrier Hen Harrier Montagu's Harrier Pallid Harrier Black-winged Kite Eurasian Sparrowhawk Gyrfalcon Peregrine Falcon Common Kestrel Merlin Eurasian Hobby Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description 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.

Taxonomy, classification See Gyrfalcon at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range 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.

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

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an adult Gyrfalcon in captivity (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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