Gyrfalcon

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Gyrfalcon in the UK

A very rare visitor from the Arctic and a national rarity, with every record assessed by the British Birds Rarities Committee. One or a few are found in most years. The majority are white-morph birds thought to come from Greenland, with a smaller number of grey birds. It has never bred here. The first British record dates from Shetland in 1835. Escaped falconers' birds, including hybrids between Gyrfalcon and other large falcons, turn up as well and have to be ruled out.

Where and when to see a Gyrfalcon

Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides hold most records, followed by the west coasts of Scotland and Ireland and, less often, Cornwall, Devon and Scilly. Most are found between December and April. Birds hunt over open coast, moorland and islands with seabird or wildfowl flocks, and some stay for weeks. News usually breaks from island birders or from a photo of a 'big white falcon' sent in by a member of the public.

Habitat, diet and field notes

Habitat: Cliffs (rare winter visitor).
Diet: Birds.
Field note: Largest falcon; white morph.

How to identify a Gyrfalcon

The largest falcon, close to Buzzard in bulk and clearly bigger than a Peregrine. Wings are broad at the base with blunter tips, the tail is long, and the chest is deep. At rest the wingtips fall well short of the tail tip. White birds are white with dark flecks above and dark wingtips. Grey birds are slate-grey above with a faint moustache, weaker than a Peregrine's. Wingbeats are slow and shallow but the bird is fast, chasing prey low over the ground instead of stooping from height.

Call and song

Vagrants in Britain are silent. At Arctic nest sites it gives a gruff, hoarse 'kak-kak-kak', lower and slower than the call of a Peregrine. Heard something you cannot place? Bird Hear identifies UK birds from a 10 second recording, free in your browser.

Confusion species

• Peregrine Falcon: Peregrine is smaller with pointed wingtips that reach the tail tip at rest, and a bold black moustache on a dark hood.
• Saker Falcon: Saker, mostly seen here as an escape, is brown above with a pale head and dark thigh feathers, and is never white or slate-grey.
• Northern Goshawk: Goshawk has rounded wings, a barred breast and a white stripe over the eye, and flies with bursts of flaps and glides.

Related guide UK raptors and owls.

Conservation status and Birdedex points

In the Birdedex the Gyrfalcon is an Epic tier bird, worth +20 points when you log one. It is not on the Red or Amber lists in Birds of Conservation Concern 5. It is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so it is an offence to disturb it at or near the nest. We blur the location of every sighting of this species.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Eleonora's FalconEpic · Mediterranean sea-cliffs
• Lanner FalconLegendary · Open country (very rare)
• MerlinUncommon · Moorland (summer); coast (winter)
• Peregrine FalconUncommon · Cliffs
• Red-footed FalconRare · Open country (rare passage)
• Saker FalconLegendary · Plains (very rare)

Gyrfalcon: quick answers

Has a Gyrfalcon ever been seen in the UK?

Yes, many times. Records go back to the 19th century and the species still appears in most years, mainly in northern and western Scotland. Published totals for Britain differ, so we do not quote one.

When is the best time to see Gyrfalcon?

Late winter into early spring, roughly December to April. Birds leave Greenland and Iceland in autumn and some drift south-east to Britain. A settled bird on an island can stay for weeks, which gives the best chance of a successful twitch.

What does a Gyrfalcon eat?

Birds, mostly medium to large ones. In the Arctic it depends on Ptarmigan and seabirds. In Britain wintering birds have hunted gulls, waders, wildfowl and auks, and will feed on a carcass over several days.

Kit that helps

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