Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!burl!codas!mtune!whuts!picuxa!gp From: gp@picuxa.UUCP (Greg Pasquariello X1190) Newsgroups: rec.birds Subject: Re: Gyrfalcon Summary: a bit about the gyrfalcon Message-ID: <444@picuxa.UUCP> Date: 13 Jan 88 13:50:48 GMT References: <439@picuxa.UUCP> <88@scovert> Organization: AT&T Information Systems, Parsippany NJ Lines: 32 In article <88@scovert>, jonl@sco.COM (Jon R. Luini) writes: > > I was wondering if anyone could give me some detailed information on > the origination of Gyrfalcon, the correct pronunciation > (grr-falcon, jire-falcon, or what?) and any other interesting info. I have always pronounced it jeer-falcon. I have heard others call it jire- falcon, but these are usually the same people that say ruff-fed grouse :-). > I figure it's about time i learned more about something which i have been > so associated with for the past year and a half. From what i understand, > a Gyrfalcon is a white falcon (the name of my band is "Falcon White", The gyrfalcon is the largest falcon in the world. It is indeed often white, but that is simply a color morph. The species also has a black phase, and a gray phase. There is even a "brown phase", but this is simply an immature of either the gray or the black. My life bird (seen last year) was an extremely pale gray phase, aptly described as silver by another birder there. Gyrfalcons are arctic tundra birds. Occasionally they wander south of their normal territories, and appear in places that resemble their homeland, usually shores or large expanses of farmland. Although I am not sure about their entire diet, I do know that they feed to a large extent on birds (as do many of the larger falcons). The one currently in CT (a brown bird) is often seen feeding on Starlings. By the way, the bird in CT is _extremely_ tolerant of people. It roosts by day in a cemetary, and I know birders that have been within 10 yards of it. Well, there is a bit about the falcon. I hope it spurs some interest. It is truly an impressive bird. Greg.