Gyrfalcon

Falco rusticolus

Introduction

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.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

1.4kg

Seasonality

BTO Records

716 records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

60% expansion

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

Open Close

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 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About BirdFacts for more information.

Population Size

Open Close

BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Shetland, 1835

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

Open Close

Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

Open Close

This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in winter

% occupied in winter

0.3%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Winter distribution <br/> 2007/08–10/11 — Winter distribution
2007/08–10/11

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Breeding distribution <br/> 2008–11 — Breeding distribution
2008–11

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

Open Close

This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007-11 and indicate by how much occupied areas have expanded or contracted over recent decades.

% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)

60%

Seasonality

Open Close

This species has been too rarely reported to BirdTrack during 2011–22 to properly assess seasonality.

Movement

Information about Gyrfalcon movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

Open Close

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

Open Close

EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Gyrfalcon, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

Open Close

Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Gyrfalcon

Classification and Codes

Open Close

Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Scientific name: Falco rusticolus
Authority: Linnaeus, 1758

BTO 2-letter code: YF
BTO 5-letter code: GYRFA
Euring code number: 3180

Alternate species names

Open Close

Catalan: grifó
Czech: raroh lovecký
Danish: Jagtfalk
Dutch: Giervalk
Estonian: jahipistrik
Finnish: tunturihaukka
French: Faucon gerfaut
Gaelic: Geàrr-sheabhag

German: Gerfalke
Hungarian: északi sólyom
Icelandic: Fálki
Irish: Fabhcún Mór
Italian: Girfalco
Latvian: medibu piekuns
Lithuanian: medžioklinis sakalas
Norwegian: Jaktfalk

Polish: bialozór
Portuguese: gerifalte
Slovak: sokol polovnícky
Slovenian: arkticni sokol
Spanish: Halcón gerifalte
Swedish: jaktfalk
Welsh: Hebog y Gogledd

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

Citing BirdFacts

If you wish to cite particular content in this page (e.g. a specific value) it is best to use the original sources as linked in the page. For a more general citation of the whole page please use: BTO (20XX) BirdFacts Species: profiles of birds occurring in the United Kingdom. BTO, Thetford (www.bto.org/birdfacts, accessed on xx/xx/xxxx).

Find a Species

Gyrfalcon

Gyrfalcon

Introduction

Key Stats

Status and Trends

Conservation Status

Population Size

Population Change

Distribution

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

European Distribution Map

Distribution Change

Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

Seasonality

Movement

Britain & Ireland movement

European movements

Biology

Survival and Longevity

Classification, names and codes

Classification and Codes

Alternate species names

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Citing BirdFacts

Search by common or scientific name

BTO – Birds Science People