Appearance: Gyrfalcons are enormous birds about 19-26″ long. The more regal variety of this bird is white with black spots. However, they do come in other shades including white, gray, and dark brown. The wings, back, and tails are barred with either gray or dark brown. The wings and tail are long. The females are the same but much larger.
Diet: Birds and small mammals (e.g. rabbits, squirrels).
Feeder food: Not feeder birds.
Habitat: Gyrfalcons prefer the northern tundra both inland and along the coasts where seabirds and waterfowl are on the menu. Occasionally they can be found along the edges of forested areas. In lower elevations, they are found in open areas.
Nesting: Gyrfalcons build a rudimentary nest very high in a tree or along a cliff edge. They have 1 brood per season, 1-5 white or reddish-brown eggs/brood, incubation is 34-36 days and fledglings leave the nest after about 50 days.
Migration: Gyrfalcons are migrators. Although they maintain a year-round range in Alaska and northern Canada, many migrate even further north into Canada’s islands and Greenland for breeding. Then in the fall, they return to the year-round range for winter or migrate further south into Canada and northern US states.
Year-round range: Alaska, Yukon, northern Northwest Territories, northern Nunavut, and northern Quebec.
Breeding range: northern Canadian islands and Greenland.
Winter range: Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North & South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and all Canadian provinces.
