Gyrfalcon

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Photo by Gaukur
Photo taken: Husavik harbour, Iceland.
2nd cy bird.

Falco rusticolus

Distribution

In Eurasia breeds in Iceland and in the mountains and north of Norway, Sweden and Finland (rare), the north of the Kola Peninsula and coastal Arctic Russia east to Kamchatka. Scandinavian birds are mainly resident year-round, with juveniles more apt to wandering; Russian birds almost all migrants. In winter ranges south to southern Norway, central Finland and across Russia to about 60 degrees north. In the east a rare winter visitor to north-east China and Hokkaido, Japan.

Recorded as a vagrant to most European countries from Svalbard and the Faroes in the north to Portugal, Spain and the Balearics, northern Italy, Switzerland and the Ukraine in the south. Annually recorded in Britain (c.120 modern records), Ireland, and Denmark.

Taxonomy

This species is monotypic.

Habitat

Breeds on cliffs, inland in mountains or tundra river-valleys, or in the far north along sea-coasts; in areas with trees may also breed in old nest of e.g., Rough-legged Buzzard. Migrants hunt over open steppes, marshes or cultivated land.

Behaviour

The male often starts defending the territory in January, even if the female is not yet present. The pair performs flight display over the nesting site before egg-laying starts. Normally, birds are two years old before starting to breed.

In the Western Palearctic, the most important food seems to be Grouse and Ptarmigan.

Vocalisation

<flashmp3>Falco rusticolus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

External Links

Search for photos of Gyrfalcon in the gallery