Gyrfalcon

Gyrfalcon battle analysis

The gyrfalcon is the heavyweight of the falcon world. A female, the larger sex, weighs about 1.7 kg and spans up to 130 cm, nearly twice the weight of a male. It lives where few raptors can, nesting on Arctic cliffs and staying through the polar winter, when some birds live for weeks over sea ice hunting seabirds and ducks around open water.

Its hunting style is different from the peregrine's famous dive. Gyrfalcons usually attack low, bursting from a perch or sweeping along a ridge to surprise ptarmigan and other birds. When that first strike misses, they settle into a long tail-chase just above the ground, relying on powerful flight muscles to wear their prey down. A study of young gyrfalcons found they steer toward targets using the same rule as peregrines, but correct their heading less sharply, a match for a bigger bird built for sustained pursuit.

In a battle, the gyrfalcon is a dangerous small predator. Its talons and notched bill kill prey as large as ducks and hares, and it presses attacks with real commitment. But at under 2 kg it has no armor, and a heavy hit to its wings can end the fight. It rates highly for Agility, Stamina and senses, and modestly for Attack and Defense.

Habitat & range

Breeds across the Arctic and sub-Arctic of North America, Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia and Russia on cliffs and outcrops in tundra, coastal and mountain landscapes. Many adults stay near breeding areas all year, while some birds, especially juveniles, move south in winter or out onto sea ice.

Diet & hunting

A bird specialist centered on rock and willow ptarmigan, which make up about 72% of summer diet biomass in northeast Iceland. It also takes waterfowl, seabirds, shorebirds, Arctic hares, ground squirrels and lemmings. In Iceland its breeding success rises and falls with ptarmigan numbers.

Social life

Solitary outside the breeding season; breeding pairs hold territories around cliff nest sites and often reuse old raven or rough-legged hawk nests, as they build no nest of their own.

Conservation

Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2004 because of its huge range and a population estimated at about 50,000–70,000 birds. Partners in Flight estimates a global breeding population of about 70,000 and reports no evidence of long-term decline in North America. Warming that alters ptarmigan cycles and Arctic habitats is a concern for the future.

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