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| Gyr Falcon | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Falconiformes |
| Family: | Falconidae |
| Genus: | Falco |
| Species: | F. rusticolus |
| Binomial name | |
| Falco rusticolus Linnaeus, 1758 | |
The Gyr Falcon (Falco rusticolus), also spelled Gyrfalcon, is a large bird of prey. This species breeds on Arctic coasts and islands of North America, Europe and Asia. It is mainly resident, but some disperse more widely, after the breeding season, or in winter. The 'G' is pronounced as "j" in "jar".
The word came from French gerfaucon, and is written in mediaeval Latin as gyrofalco. The first part may come from Old High German gîr (= modern German Geier) = "vulture", referring to its size compared to other falcons.
It is a bird of tundra and mountains, with cliffs or a few patches of trees. It lays 2-6 eggs on a cliff ledge nest.
This is the largest falcon, at more than 60cm in length with a wingspan up to 130cm, similar to the Common Buzzard. It is like a large Peregrine Falcon in general structure, but broader-winged and longer-tailed than the Peregrine. It usually hunts by horizontal pursuit, rather than the Peregrine's stoop from a height, and takes bird and small mammal prey such as Ptarmigans and lemmings.
|thumb|gyr tiercel (male gyrfalcon)] Plumage is very variable in this species, although typically adults have slate-grey back and wings, and young birds are browner. Sexes are similar. Greenland Gyr Falcons have white plumage, flecked with grey on the back and wings. Other geographical forms are varying intensities of grey in coloration: the Icelandic form is the palest, and Eurasian forms are considerably darker.
In medieval times, the Gyrfalcon was considered the king's bird. Due to its rarity and the difficulties involved in obtaining it, as well as its purity of color, in falconry the bird was generally reserved for kings and nobles. Very seldom was the time when a man of lesser rank could be seen with a Gyrfalcon on his fist.
In falconry Gyrfacons are very expensive to buy, and thus owners and breeders of gyrfalcons tend to keep them secret to avoid theft. They tend to fly long distances, and the falconer should be able and prepared to travel long distances to retrieve his Gyrfalcon, which should carry a good radio-tracker.