Gyr Falcon
\nThe
Gyr Falcon (
Falco rusticolus), also spelled
Gyrfalcon, is a large
bird of prey. This species breeds on Arctic coasts and islands of
North America,
Europe and
Asia. It is mainly resident, but some
birds disperse more widely, after the breeding season, or in winter.
It is a
bird of tundra and mountains, with cliffs or a few patches of trees. It lays 2-6 eggs on a cliff ledge nest.
This is the largest
falcon, at more than 60cm in length with a wingspan up to 130cm, similar to the
Common Buzzard. It is like a large
Peregrine Falcon in general structure, but broader-winged and longer-tailed than that species. It usually hunts by horizontal pursuit, rather than the Peregrine's stoop from a height, and takes bird and mammal prey such as Ptarmigans and
lemmings.
Plumage is very variable in this species, although typically adults have slate-grey back and wings, and young birds are browner. Sexes are similar.
Greenland Gyr Falcons have white plumage, flecked with grey on the back and wings. Other geographical forms are varying intensities of grey in coloration, with
Icelandic breeders being the palest, and
Eurasian birds considerably darker.
