Photo: Falco_rusticolus_white.jpg: Ólafur Larsen derivative work: Bogbumper (talk) / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Birds of Prey

Gyrfalcon

Falco rusticolus

Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) — Birds of Prey of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Canada Birds of the United Kingdom Birds of the United States Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Northwest Territories

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The Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) is a member of the Falconidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 1.4 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Falconiformes
Family Falconidae Caracaras, Falcons
Genus Falco
Species rusticolus

Where it lives

Arctic Europe, Asia and North America

Quick facts

Weight: 1.4 kg
Diet: Vertebrate hunters
Family: Falconidae
Order: Falconiformes
Habitat: Grassland & open country

How to identify

Similar birds

Endangered

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Gyrfalcon preys mainly on other vertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of open grassland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.

Migration

The Gyrfalcon is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) is a species of bird in the Falconidae family, part of the order Falconiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers NA, PAL Arctic Europe, Asia and North America.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.4 kg, with a wing length of about 36.8 cm and a tail of around 20.2 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 8.8 million km².

Songs & calls

Gyrfalcon — Call

Recorded by Lars Edenius Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Gyrfalcon?

The Gyrfalcon is a very large bird that weighs around 1.4 kg.

Where does the Gyrfalcon live?

The Gyrfalcon is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL Arctic Europe, Asia and North America, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.

What family does the Gyrfalcon belong to?

The Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) belongs to the Falconidae family, in the order Falconiformes.

What does the Gyrfalcon eat?

The Gyrfalcon preys mainly on other vertebrates.

Does the Gyrfalcon migrate?

The Gyrfalcon is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Gyrfalcon endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Gyrfalcon make?

1 real field recording of the Gyrfalcon — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Gyrfalcon's range?

The Gyrfalcon has a mapped global range of about 8.8 million km².