Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Falconiformes > Falconidae > Falco > Falco rusticolusFalco rusticolus (Gyrfalcon)Synonyms: Falco candicans; Falco gyrfalco; Falco islandus; Falco rusticolus candicans; Falco rusticolus islandus; Falco rusticolus obsoletus; Falco rusticolus rusticolus; Falco rusticolus uralensis; Gyrfalco candicans Language: French The gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) (/ˈdʒɜːrfɔːlkən/ or /ˈdʒɜːrfælkən/), also spelled gerfalcon, is a bird of prey, the largest of the falcon species. The abbreviation gyr is also seen in the literature. It breeds on Arctic coasts and tundra, and the islands of northern North America, Europe, and Asia. It is mainly a resident there also, but some gyrfalcons disperse more widely after the breeding season, or in winter. Individual vagrancy can take birds for long distances. Its plumage varies with location, with birds being coloured from all-white to dark brown. These colour variations are called morphs. Like other falcons, it shows sexual dimorphism, with the female much larger than the male. For centuries the gyrfalcon has been a precious hunting bird, highly valued among the Vikings. Typical |
Uniqueness Scale: Similiar (0) Unique (100) Uniqueness & Vulnerability Scale: Similiar & Secure (0) Unique & Vulnerable (100) ED Score: 3.60939 EDGE Score: 1.5281 |
Adult Weight [1] | 3.512 lbs (1.593 kg) | Birth Weight [3] | 52 grams | Female Weight [6] | 3.863 lbs (1.752 kg) | Male Weight [6] | 2.579 lbs (1.17 kg) | Weight Dimorphism [6] | 49.7 % | | Breeding Habitat [2] | Arctic tundra | Wintering Geography [2] | Northern U.S./Canada | Wintering Habitat [2] | Generalist | | Diet [4] | Carnivore (Vertebrates) | Diet - Endothermic [4] | 100 % | Forages - Aerial [4] | 10 % | Forages - Mid-High [4] | 10 % | Forages - Understory [4] | 10 % | Forages - Ground [4] | 70 % | | Clutch Size [7] | 4 | Clutches / Year [3] | 1 | Fledging [5] | 48 days | Global Population (2017 est.) [2] | 77,000 | Incubation [3] | 35 days | Mating Display [8] | Acrobatic aerial display | Maximum Longevity [3] | 14 years | Raptor Research Conservation Priority [9] | 133 | Snout to Vent Length [5] | 22 inches (57 cm) | Wing Span [10] | 3.936 feet (1.2 m) | | Female Maturity [3] | 2 years | Male Maturity [3] | 2 years |
|
Name |
Countries |
Ecozone |
Biome |
Species |
Report |
Climate |
Land Use |
Alaska Peninsula montane taiga |
United States |
Nearctic |
Boreal Forests/Taiga |
|
|
|
|
Alaska-St. Elias Range tundra |
United States |
Nearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Aleutian Islands tundra |
United States |
Nearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Amur meadow steppe |
China, Russia |
Palearctic |
Flooded Grasslands and Savannas |
|
|
|
|
Arctic coastal tundra |
Canada, United States |
Nearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Arctic foothills tundra |
Canada, United States |
Nearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Baffin coastal tundra |
Canada |
Nearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Bering tundra |
Russia |
Palearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Beringia lowland tundra |
United States |
Nearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Beringia upland tundra |
United States |
Nearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Brooks-British Range tundra |
Canada, United States |
Nearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Cherskii-Kolyma mountain tundra |
Russia |
Palearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Chukchi Peninsula tundra |
Russia |
Palearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Davis Highlands tundra |
Canada |
Nearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
East Siberian taiga |
Russia |
Palearctic |
Boreal Forests/Taiga |
|
|
|
|
High Arctic tundra |
Canada |
Nearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Hokkaido deciduous forests |
Japan |
Palearctic |
Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests |
|
|
|
|
Hokkaido montane conifer forests |
Japan |
Palearctic |
Temperate Coniferous Forests |
|
|
|
|
Honshu alpine conifer forests |
Japan |
Palearctic |
Temperate Coniferous Forests |
|
|
|
|
Iceland boreal birch forests and alpine tundra |
Iceland |
Palearctic |
Boreal Forests/Taiga |
|
|
|
|
Interior Alaska-Yukon lowland taiga |
Canada, United States |
Nearctic |
Boreal Forests/Taiga |
|
|
|
|
Interior Yukon-Alaska alpine tundra |
Canada, United States |
Nearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Kamchatka Mountain tundra and forest tundra |
Russia |
Palearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Kamchatka-Kurile meadows and sparse forests |
Russia |
Palearctic |
Boreal Forests/Taiga |
|
|
|
|
Kamchatka-Kurile taiga |
Russia |
Palearctic |
Boreal Forests/Taiga |
|
|
|
|
Kola Peninsula tundra |
Russia |
Palearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Low Arctic tundra |
Canada |
Nearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Manchurian mixed forests |
Republic of Korea, Dem. People's Rep of Korea, China, Russia |
Palearctic |
Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests |
|
|
|
|
Middle Arctic tundra |
Canada |
Nearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Mongolian-Manchurian grassland |
China, Mongolia |
Palearctic |
Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
|
|
|
|
Nihonkai montane deciduous forests |
Japan |
Palearctic |
Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests |
|
|
|
|
Northeast China Plain deciduous forests |
China |
Palearctic |
Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests |
|
|
|
|
Northeast Siberian coastal tundra |
Russia |
Palearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Northeast Siberian taiga |
Russia |
Palearctic |
Boreal Forests/Taiga |
|
|
|
|
Northern Canadian Shield taiga |
Canada |
Nearctic |
Boreal Forests/Taiga |
|
|
|
|
Northwest Russian-Novaya Zemlya tundra |
Russia |
Palearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Ogilvie-MacKenzie alpine tundra |
Canada, United States |
Nearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Scandinavian and Russian taiga |
Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia |
Palearctic |
Boreal Forests/Taiga |
|
|
|
|
Scandinavian coastal conifer forests |
Norway |
Palearctic |
Temperate Coniferous Forests |
|
|
|
|
Scandinavian Montane Birch forest and grasslands |
Norway, Sweden, Finland |
Palearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Taimyr-Central Siberian tundra |
Russia |
Palearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Torngat Mountain tundra |
Canada |
Nearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
West Siberian taiga |
Russia |
Palearctic |
Boreal Forests/Taiga |
|
|
|
|
Yamal-Gydan tundra |
Russia |
Palearctic |
Tundra |
|
|
|
|
Yukon Interior dry forests |
Canada |
Nearctic |
Boreal Forests/Taiga |
|
|
|
|
Name |
IUCN Category |
Area acres |
Location |
Species |
Website |
Climate |
Land Use |
Aleutian Islands Biosphere Reserve |
|
2720489 |
Alaska, United States |
|
|
|
|
Altaisky Zapovednik |
Ia |
2177587 |
Altai, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Andakill Protected Habitat Area |
|
7626 |
Iceland |
|
|
|
|
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge |
Ib |
12402936 |
Alaska, United States |
|
|
|
|
Audubon National Wildlife Refuge |
IV |
14642 |
North Dakota, United States |
|
|
|
|
Aulavik National Park |
II |
3021211 |
Northwest Territories, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Auyuittuq National Park |
II |
4808115 |
Nunavut, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Baikalo-Lensky Zapovednik |
Ia |
1630896 |
Irkutsk, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Barguzinskiy Biosphere Reserve Zapovednik |
Ia |
924970 |
Buryatia, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Bashkirsky State Nature Reserve |
|
274648 |
Bashkortostan, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Bonanza Creek LTER Site Long Term Ecological Research |
|
|
Alaska, United States |
|
|
|
|
Bruce Peninsula National Park |
II |
|
Ontario, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Central Plains Biosphere Reserve |
|
15345 |
United States |
|
|
|
|
Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve |
|
864738 |
British Columbia, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Colorado National Monument |
III |
20420 |
Colorado, United States |
|
|
|
|
Daurskiy Biosphere Reserve |
|
562659 |
Russia |
|
|
|
|
Daursky Biosphere Reserve |
|
113150 |
Chita, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Dee Estuary/ Aber Dyfrdwy |
|
39057 |
England/Wales, United Kingdom |
|
|
|
|
Denali Biosphere Reserve |
|
1932364 |
Alaska, United States |
|
|
|
|
Dzhugdzhursky State Nature Reserve |
|
2124998 |
Khabarovsk, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Fathom Five National Marine Park |
II |
|
Ontario, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Forillon National Park |
II |
61010 |
Quebec, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Fundy National Park |
II |
52716 |
New Brunswick, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Gates of the Arctic National Park |
Ib |
184461 |
Alaska, United States |
|
|
|
|
Gros Morne National Park |
II |
476632 |
Newfoundland, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve |
II |
366714 |
British Columbia, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Gydansky State Nature Reserve |
|
2170015 |
Yamalo-Nenets, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Ivvavik National Park |
II |
2382752 |
Yukon, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Kandalaksha State Nature Reserve |
|
174283 |
Murmansk, Karelia, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Kenozersky National Park |
|
345115 |
Arkhangelsk, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Khakassia State Nature Reserve |
|
661168 |
Khakassia, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Khankaisky State Nature Reserve |
|
97085 |
Primorsky Krai, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Kivach Zapovednik |
IV |
26885 |
Karelia, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Kluane National Park and Reserve National Park Reserve |
II |
5463436 |
Yukon, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Komandorsk Biosphere Reserve |
|
9016082 |
Kamchatka Krai , Russia |
|
|
|
|
Koryak State Nature Reserve |
|
808420 |
Kamchatka Krai, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Krkonose National Park |
V |
95995 |
Czech Republic |
|
|
|
|
Kronotskiy Biosphere Reserve |
|
361480 |
Russia |
|
|
|
|
Kronotsky Biosphere Reserve |
|
2822275 |
Kamchatka Krai , Russia |
|
|
|
|
Kurilsky State Nature Reserve |
|
161520 |
Sakhalin, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Kuznetsk Alatau State Nature Reserve |
|
1020298 |
Kemerovo, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Lake Superior Provincial Park |
IV |
351011 |
Ontario, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Lake Torne Area Biosphere Reserve |
|
238457 |
Sweden |
|
|
|
|
Lapland State Nature Reserve |
|
688028 |
Murmansk, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Laplandskiy Biosphere Reserve |
|
757114 |
Russia |
|
|
|
|
Lazovsky Zapovednik |
Ia |
299030 |
Primorsky Krai, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Limestone Coast of South West Wales/ Arfordir Calchfaen de Orllewin Cymru |
|
3940 |
Wales, United Kingdom |
|
|
|
|
Long Point Biosphere Reserve |
|
100325 |
Ontario, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Magadan State Nature Reserve |
|
2183959 |
Magadan, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Malaya Sozva Zapovednik |
Ia |
557376 |
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Reserve |
|
293047 |
British Columbia, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Nahanni National Park Reserve |
II |
1309627 |
Northwest Territories, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Nenetsk State Nature Reserve |
|
774428 |
Nenets, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve |
|
470167 |
Ontario, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Noatak Biosphere Reserve |
|
7500143 |
Alaska, United States |
|
|
|
|
North-east Greenland National Park |
II |
237590314 |
Greenland |
|
|
|
|
Nyzhnesvirsky Nature Reserve |
|
102833 |
Leningrad, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Okskiy Biosphere Reserve |
|
190748 |
Russia |
|
|
|
|
Olympic Biosphere Reserve |
II |
922805 |
Washington, United States |
|
|
|
|
Ostrov Vrangelya (Wrangel Island) Zapovednik Nature Monument |
III |
180 |
Russia |
|
|
|
|
Plymouth Sound and Estuaries |
|
15820 |
England, United Kingdom |
|
|
|
|
Poronaisky State Nature Reserve |
|
140096 |
Sakhalin, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Pribaikalsky National Park |
|
1031171 |
Irkutsk, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Prince Albert National Park |
II |
976762 |
Saskatchewan, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Pukaskwa National Park |
II |
459860 |
Ontario, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Puszcza Kampinoska Biosphere Reserve |
|
188373 |
Poland |
|
|
|
|
Putoransky State Nature Reserve |
|
4663499 |
Evenki, Taimyr, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Queen Maud Gulf Bird Sanctuary Migratory Bird Sanctuary |
IV |
15335601 |
Nunavut, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Quttinirpaaq (Ellesmere Island) National Park Reserve |
II |
9436606 |
Nunavut, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Saguenay - St. Lawrence Marine Park National Marine Conservation Area |
II |
310822 |
Canada |
|
|
|
|
Shortgrass Steppe LTER Site Long Term Ecological Research |
|
|
Colorado, United States |
|
|
|
|
Shulgantash State Nature Reserve |
|
55675 |
Shulgan-Tash, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Shushensky Bor National Park |
|
96791 |
Krasnoyarsk, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Reserve |
|
991950 |
Primorsky Krai, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Sikhote-Alinskiy Biosphere Reserve |
|
978001 |
Russia |
|
|
|
|
Sirmilik National Park |
II |
5475284 |
Canada |
|
|
|
|
Sokhondinskiy Biosphere Reserve |
Ia |
521363 |
Chita, Russia |
|
|
|
|
South Hams |
|
320 |
England, United Kingdom |
|
|
|
|
St. Kilda National Nature Reserve |
|
|
Scotland, United Kingdom |
|
|
|
|
Taimyrsky Biosphere Reserve |
Ia |
4403240 |
Taimyr, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Tawas Point State Park |
|
183 |
Michigan, United States |
|
|
|
|
Trans-Baikal National Park |
|
660209 |
Buryatia, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Tsentral'no-Sibirskiy Biosphere Reserve |
Ia |
2521510 |
Krasnoyarsk, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Tunkinsky National Park |
|
2924892 |
Buryatia, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Ubsunurskaya Kotlovina (Ubsunur Depression) Zapovednik |
Ia |
798640 |
Tuva, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Ujscie Wisly |
|
4320 |
Poland |
|
|
|
|
Ukkusiksalik National Park |
II |
|
Nunavut, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Ust-Lensky State Nature Reserve |
|
3541020 |
Sakha, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Verkhne-Tazovsky State Nature Reserve |
|
1564938 |
Yamalo-Nenets, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Vodlozersky National Park |
|
1157293 |
Karelia, Arkhangelsk, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Voyageurs National Park |
II |
177960 |
Minnesota, United States |
|
|
|
|
Wapusk National Park |
II |
2614324 |
Manitoba, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Waterton Biosphere Reserve |
II |
121459 |
Alberta, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Wood Buffalo National Park |
II |
11038545 |
Alberta, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Wrangel Island State Nature Reserve |
|
5499701 |
Chukotka, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve |
Ib |
2476446 |
Alaska, United States |
|
|
|
|
Yugansky State Nature Reserve |
|
1602814 |
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Yugyd Islands National Park |
|
4674495 |
Komi, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Yuzhno-Uralsky State Nature Reserve |
|
624742 |
Chelyabinsk, Bashkortostan, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Zeya State Nature Reserve |
|
245697 |
Amur, Russia |
|
|
|
|
Name |
Location |
IBA Criteria |
Website |
Climate |
Land Use |
Alta-Kautokeino watercourse |
Norway |
B2 |
|
|
|
Frostviken |
Sweden |
A1, A4i, B1i, B2, C1, C2, C6 |
|
|
|
Hardangervidda |
Norway |
A1, A4i, B1i, B2, B3 |
|
|
|
Käsivarsi fjelds |
Finland |
A3, B2, B3, C2, C6 |
|
|
|
Lake Tjålmejaure-Laisdalen valley |
Sweden |
A3, B2, C6 |
|
|
|
Lapland Biosphere Reserve |
Russia (European) |
A3, A4i, B1i, B2, B3 |
|
|
|
Middle reaches of Bolshaya Rogovaya river |
Russia (European) |
A1, A3, B2 |
|
|
|
Påkketan |
Sweden |
B2, C6 |
|
|
|
Ponoiskaya depression |
Russia (European) |
A1, A3, A4i, B1i, B2 |
|
|
|
Seven islands |
Russia (European) |
A4iii, B1i, B2, B3 |
|
|
|
Sjaunja |
Sweden |
A1, A3, B2, C1, C6 |
|
|
|
South coast of Germania Land, and Slaedelandet |
Greenland (to Denmark) |
A3, B1i, B2 |
|
|
|
Taavavuoma |
Sweden |
A3, B2, C6 |
|
|
|
Torna: Shoina watershed |
Russia (European) |
A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, B3 |
|
|
|
Varangerfjord |
Norway |
A1, A3, A4i, A4iii, B1i |
|
|
|
Vindelfjällen mountains (including Lake Tärnasjön) |
Sweden |
A3, B2, C6 |
|
|
|
Yugyd Va |
Russia (European) |
A1, A3, B1i, B2 |
|
|
|
|
Name |
Location |
Endemic |
Species |
Website |
Japan |
Japan |
No |
|
|
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Iceland Northwest Territories |
Attributes / relations provided by ♦ 1Storchová, Lenka; Hořák, David (2018), Data from: Life-history characteristics of European birds, Dryad, Dataset, https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.n6k3n ♦ 2Partners in Flight Avian Conservation Assessment Database, version 2017. Accessed on January 2018. ♦ 3de Magalhaes, J. P., and Costa, J. (2009) A database of vertebrate longevity records and their relation to other life-history traits. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 22(8):1770-1774 ♦ 4Hamish Wilman, Jonathan Belmaker, Jennifer Simpson, Carolina de la Rosa, Marcelo M. Rivadeneira, and Walter Jetz. 2014. EltonTraits 1.0: Species-level foraging attributes of the world's birds and mammals. Ecology 95:2027 ♦ 5Nathan P. Myhrvold, Elita Baldridge, Benjamin Chan, Dhileep Sivam, Daniel L. Freeman, and S. K. Morgan Ernest. 2015. An amniote life-history database to perform comparative analyses with birds, mammals, and reptiles. Ecology 96:3109 ♦ 6Brown, L., and D. Amadon. 1968. Eagles, hawks, and falcons of the world. McGraw-Hill, New York. ♦ 7Jetz W, Sekercioglu CH, Böhning-Gaese K (2008) The Worldwide Variation in Avian Clutch Size across Species and Space PLoS Biol 6(12): e303. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0060303 ♦ 8Terje Lislevand, Jordi Figuerola, and Tamás Székely. 2007. Avian body sizes in relation to fecundity, mating system, display behavior, and resource sharing. Ecology 88:1605 ♦ 9Buechley ER, Santangeli A, Girardello M, et al. Global raptor research and conservation priorities: Tropical raptors fall prey to knowledge gaps. Divers Distrib. 2019;25:856–869. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12901 ♦ 10Alaska Wildlife Notebook Series, Alaska Department of Fish and Game ♦ 11Jorrit H. Poelen, James D. Simons and Chris J. Mungall. (2014). Global Biotic Interactions: An open infrastructure to share and analyze species-interaction datasets. Ecological Informatics. ♦ 12POTAPOV, E. 2011. Gyrfalcon diet: Spatial and temporal variation In R. T. Watson, T. J. Cade, M. Fuller, G. Hunt, and E. Potapov (Eds.). Gyrfalcons and Ptarmigan in a Changing World. The Peregrine Fund, Boise, Idaho, USA ♦ 13Exploring the Denali Food Web, ParkWise, National Park Service ♦ 14Lepus arcticus, Troy L. Best and Travis Hill Henry, MAMMALIAN SPECIES No. 457, pp. 1-9 (1994) ♦ 15International Flea DatabaseEcoregions provided by World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF). WildFinder: Online database of species distributions, ver. 01.06 Wildfinder Database |
Species taxanomy provided by GBIF Secretariat (2022). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org on 2023-06-13; License: CC BY 4.0
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