Gyrfalcon
The gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) is the largest falcon in the world, a powerful hunter of the Arctic tundra. It comes in white, gray and dark forms, and white birds are especially prized.
The gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) is the largest falcon in the world, a powerful hunter of the Arctic tundra. It comes in white, gray and dark forms, and white birds are especially prized.
🧬 Field Guide Specimen: Open Gyrfalcon in the CRV Science Field Guide to log the specimen, see its place among the Reptilia lineages in the Cladogram Explorer, and test your recall in the Red List conservation game.
A Predator of Ptarmigan
The gyrfalcon follows its prey, mostly ptarmigan and other grouse, which can vary with cycles. In winter, it may move south to the coast. It hunts by stooping on prey or chasing it low across the ground.
White Falcons and Camouflage
The white form is more common in the high Arctic and blends with snow. Color is determined genetically and varies with region.
Falconry and Conservation
For centuries gyrfalcons have been prized in falconry, often by royalty, and captive breeding now supplies many birds. Climate change affects the Arctic habitat. See Peregrine Falcon.
Gyrfalcon at a Glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Falco rusticolus |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Falconiformes |
| Family | Falconidae |
| Field Guide group | Reptilia: Aves (Birds) |
| Diagnostic feature (Field Guide) | Largest of its family, with a heavy body, long pointed wings, and a notched 'tooth' on the upper bill; plumage ranges from white to dark gray across the Arctic. |
| IUCN Red List status | Least Concern (LC), assessed 2021 |
| Family | Falconidae |
| Main prey | Ptarmigan |
See Also
- Peregrine Falcon — a fast falcon
- Narwhal — another Arctic species