Gyrfalcon
Falco rusticolus (Linnaeus, 1758)
YF
GYRFA
3180
Family: Falconiformes > Falconidae
This is the largest of the falcons and individuals are highly variable in colour, ranging from dark-brown through to almost pure white. Most records of this rare visitor to Britain & Ireland come from the winter months.
Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Gyrfalcon
BTO RECORDS
BTO RECORDS
Identification
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Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.
CONSERVATION STATUS
This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.
| Species of European Conservation Concern | Least Concern |
| IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global) |
Least Concern 
|
| Schedule 1 license required (to disturb) | No |
| Birds Directive Annex 1 | No |
POPULATION SIZE
We have no population estimates for this scarce species.
| BOU Category | A |
|
First Record
|
Shetland, 1835 |
DISTRIBUTION
This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.
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Britain and Ireland Breeding Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore. -
Britain and Ireland Winter Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore.
Occupied 10-km squares in UK
| No. occupied in winter | 8 |
| % occupied in winter | 0.3 |
European Distribution Map
DISTRIBUTION CHANGE
This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.
| % change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11) | +60% |
Movement
Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.
RINGING RECOVERIES
View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.
Biology
Lifecycle and body size information about Gyrfalcon, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.
PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING
Sample sizes are too small to report Productivity and Nesting statistics for this species.
BIOMETRICS
Sample sizes are too small to report Biometrics for this species.
Feather measurements and photos on featherbase
CODES & CLASSIFICATION
|
Field Codes
|
2-letter: YF | 5-letter code: GYRFA | Euring: 3180 |
For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name
Links to more studies from ConservationEvidence.com
- Effect of saline added to food on weight gain of hand-raised falcons
- Use of nest boxes by goldeneyes in eastern North America
- Nestbox provisioning in a rural population of Eurasian kestrels: breeding performance, nest predation and parasitism
Read more studies about Gyrfalcon on Conservation Evidence >
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