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Difference between revisions of "Gyrfalcon" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:GILL8226.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Adult<br />Photo by {{user|Gisli|Gisli}}<br />Olafsfjordur, [[Iceland]]]]
 
;[[:Category:Falco|Falco]] rusticolus
 
;[[:Category:Falco|Falco]] rusticolus
[[Image:Gyrfalcon.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Gaukur.<br/>Photo taken: Husavik harbour, [[Iceland]].<br/>2nd cy bird.]]
 
 
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
 
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48–60 cm (19-23½ in)<br />
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Three basic colour morphs; white, grey and blackish-brown
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*Dark primaries
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*Dark streaks and bars on underparts
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*Yellow legs and feet
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*Cere: yellow in adults, blue in juveniles
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[[Image:Gyrfalcon.jpg|thumb|350px|right|2nd cy bird<br />Photo by {{user|Gaukur|Gaukur}}<br />Husavik harbour, [[Iceland]]]]
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
Circumpolar.  In [[North America]] breeds in much of [[Alaska]], much of Arctic [[Canada]] and in coastal [[Greenland]]. In winter ranges south throughout most of [[Canada]] and rarely to the northern [[United States]]. Very rarely wanders south as far as northern [[California]], [[Colorado]], [[Pennsylvania]] and [[New Jersey]].
 
  
 
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]].
 
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]].  
 
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]].  
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==Taxonomy==
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[[Image:1363.JPG|thumb|350px|right|1st cy bird<br />Photo by {{user|mosbrook|mosbrook}}<br />Lista, [[Norway]], September 2011]]
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This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.
  
==Taxonomy==
 
This species is monotypic.
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==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.
 
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==
 
==Behaviour==
 +
====Breeding====
 
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.  
 
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.  
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====Diet====
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[[Image:Gyr in flightIMG 81721.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Adult in flight<br />Photo by {{user|Macswede|Macswede}}<br />[[Fulufjallet National Park]], ]]
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In the Western Palearctic, the most important food seems to be Grouse and Ptarmigan.
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====Vocalisation====
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{{ Audio|Falco rusticolus (song).mp3 }}
  
In the Western Palearctic, the most important food seems to be Grouse and Ptarmigan.
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==References==
==Voice==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
<flashmp3>Falco rusticolus (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
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#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved June 2016)
''[[Media:Falco rusticolus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
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{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Falco+rusticolus}}
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{{GSearch|"Falco rusticolus" {{!}} "Gyrfalcon" {{!}} "Gyr Falcon"}}
*[http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&Bird_ID=1061&Bird_Image_ID=10529&Bird_Family_ID=110 View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages]
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{{GS-checked}}1
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Incomplete]] [[Category:Falco]]
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<br />
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<br />
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Falco]][[Category:Bird Songs]]

Latest revision as of 18:23, 6 June 2023

Adult
Photo by Gisli
Olafsfjordur, Iceland
Falco rusticolus

Identification

48–60 cm (19-23½ in)
Three basic colour morphs; white, grey and blackish-brown

  • Dark primaries
  • Dark streaks and bars on underparts
  • Yellow legs and feet
  • Cere: yellow in adults, blue in juveniles
2nd cy bird
Photo by Gaukur
Husavik harbour, Iceland

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

1st cy bird
Photo by mosbrook
Lista, Norway, September 2011

This is a monotypic species[1].

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

Breeding

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.

Diet

Adult in flight
Photo by Macswede
Fulufjallet National Park,

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

Vocalisation

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
  3. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved June 2016)

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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