Birds · Falconiformes · Falconidae

Gyrfalcon

Falco rusticolus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is the largest falcon in the world and was historically the most prized bird in falconry, reserved in the Middle Ages for royalty alone.

Weight

800 g – 2.1 kg

Size

53 cm – 56 cm

Lifespan

13 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Fun facts

Unlike the peregrine, it hunts by active pursuit and brute force rather than high-speed stoops.
It feeds mainly on birds such as ptarmigan and ducks, supplemented with small mammals.
It lives on the Arctic and subarctic tundra of North America, Europe and Asia.

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Arctic and subarctic tundra of North America, Europe and Asia
Birth weight: Born altricial, ~52 g at birth
Size at birth: ~52 g at birth
Sexual maturity: ~2 years
Gestation / incubation: 35 days
Litter / clutch size: 2 to 7 eggs per clutch (most commonly 3-4)