Gyrfalcon
By: Soren Thompson
By: Soren Thompson
TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animal Kingdom
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Genus: Falco
Species: F. rusticolus
EVOLUTION
Sub-Species: None.
Gyrfalcons have been around ever since 11 050 BCE.
The Peregrine Falcon is the closest living relative.
The Gyrfalcon likely evolved from a Saker.
DESCRIPTION
Its generally got a white body and occasionally has grey spots. With a yellow beak and greyish black talons.
these falcons are generally enormous compared to the other falcons. their tail is relatively long and their body is very thick.
60 cm (2 feet) in length
females weighs up to 1,400–2,100 grams (3.1–4.6 pounds), which is nearly twice as much as males.
they can live up to 20 years in age
HABITAT
the Gyrfalcons habitat is the Tundra. The Tundra regions typically get less than 25 centimeters (10 inches) of precipitation.
the tundra has patchy, low-to-ground vegetation consisting of small shrubs, grasses, mosses, sedges, and lichens
the average temperature is -30 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-34 to -6 degrees Celsius)
Tundra ecosystems are treeless regions found in the Arctic and on the tops of mountains, where the climate is cold and windy, and rainfall is scant.
Distribution
They live on all continents except Antarctica. They prefer wide-open spaces, and thrive near coasts where shorebirds are common.
No they aren't invasive because they can be found anywhere.
DIET
The Gyrfalcon hunts mostly ptarmigan
They eat 2-3 ptarmigan
Gyrfalcons often hunt using a fast, low flight to chase their prey. Just before catching the prey, these falcons typically fly up and then dive straight down onto their prey.
They mainly just eat smaller birds
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
They are a bird of solitary but when it becomes breeding season they will interact with a mate.
they are normally a very quiet bird but sometimes you can hear them make noise when they are near their nest or mate.
REPRODUCTION
Gyrfalcons mate for life
They normally have one mate
They are normally old enough to mate at 2-3 years old
The courtship behavior
Gyrfalcons normally have 2-4 eggs
DEVELOPMENT
Gyrfalcons normally mature around the age of 2-3. at that age they are ready for mating.
Adult males are much smaller than females: males average less than 3 pounds while females average up to 4 pounds.
CAUSES OF DEATH
The only natural predators to Gyrfalcons are Golden Eagles
A fungal infection of the respiratory system caused by Aspergillus fumigatus
As far as i know they are the only ones
Competition
One inter - species is the Peregrine falcon
One intra - species is the Golden Eagle
For the most part they compete over territory
IUCN RATING
They are rated as the least concerned
The population is estimated at 1,200 to 2,300 breeding pairs
The total population (i.e., Arctic-wide) of gyrfalcons is estimated to be fewer than 11 000 pairs
IMPACT OF HUMANS
They are not particularly aggressive when humans intrude on nest site, they often slip away.
Increases in shipping, oil and gas exploration and fishing will introduce new human activities into Gyrfalcon habitats, increase the potential for oil spills, and increase exposure to environmental contaminants