Family:
Gryfalcons are large falcons with pointed wings and a long tail. Females are significantly larger than males.
They are polymorphic and range in colour from white to dark brown – the morphs are called ‘white’, ‘silver’, ‘brown’, and ‘black’ with the white morph being the only white falcon, and the black morph found mostly in females. Gryfalcons have heavy bars on the back, wings, and tail, and spots on their underparts.
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Gyrfalcons are opportunistic hunters but will mainly prey on seabirds and other medium-sized birds such as ptarmigan, corvids, small passerines, and waders. They will also take small mammals including lemmings, voles, hares, squirrels, voles, and occasionally bats.
Gyrfalcons are found on tundra, snow forests, mountains, coasts, and sea ice. It breeds from Greenland to northern Siberia and winters in northern Europe, central Asia, and the northern United States.
One Response
I spotted what I believe was a Gyrfalcon over my farmland in Buckinghamshire
7 July 2022 approx 5am. Trying to drive a Buzzard out of a large bush. It succeeded and then landed in the field before lifting off and gradually moved away across further land. It was very white with some black tips on the wings, beautiful to watch in flight. It was larger than the Red Kites that are regular visitors