Gyrfalcon

Falco rusticolus
Falcons (Falconidae)

CC-BY-SA 2.0 rights : Dominic Sherony

A large falcon with brown-grey back and white-edged feathers, lighter coloured breast and an almost white head with dark markings and a wide tail. The colours can vary from almost white to very dark with only a few light markings. 

Found at shores and inland, hunting larger birds like ducks and grouse, but also rodents.  If food is scarce it takes carrion. Hunts flying low chasing the prey until it is exhausted. 

⇔ l. 54-55 cm

This is the largest falcon and mostly a resident bird breeding up north.
The national bird of Iceland.

LA:
≈ The FALCO PEREGRINUS (Peregrine falcon) has a dark coloured head with whiskers and is smaller.

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