Gyrfalcon
흰매
The largest falcon in the world, nesting on Arctic cliffs, with many birds in pale white plumage. It hunts ptarmigan and other birds with swift, powerful flight.
See it on the 3D globe →At a glance
- Class
- Birds
- Lives in
- Greenland and the Arctic
- Diet
- Meat eater (carnivore)
- Weight
- about 1.4 kg
- Length
- about 0.56 m
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN LC)
- Habitat
- polar regions, mountains
Quick answers
Where does the Gyrfalcon live?
It lives in polar regions, mountains. On the globe you can find it near Greenland and the Arctic.
How big is the Gyrfalcon?
It grows to about 0.56 m and 1.4 kg.
What does the Gyrfalcon eat?
Its diet: meat eater (carnivore).
Is the Gyrfalcon endangered?
It is listed as Least Concern (IUCN LC).
The gyrfalcon is the largest falcon in the world. Males are about 48 to 61 centimetres long and weigh roughly 0.8 to 1.35 kilograms, and females are larger. Its colour varies with place, from pure white to dark grey-brown. Females are noticeably larger than males.
It breeds on Arctic cliffs and tundra across northern North America, Greenland, Europe and Siberia, and it is mostly a resident that stays in the cold all year. It hunts birds such as ptarmigan and waterfowl, often catching them in flight, and also takes fish and small mammals. Its feathers are strong and its flight is swift and powerful.
A bird of kings and Vikings
For centuries people have trained gyrfalcons to hunt, which is called falconry. The big, powerful falcons were so valued that they were treasured gifts, and the Vikings prized them highly.
Today the gyrfalcon is a symbol of Iceland. In falconry, a male is sometimes called a gyrkin. Even today, falconers value the bird for its strength and speed. A good falcon was once a mark of rank, and its flights over open ground were admired.
What does the name mean?
The word gyrfalcon comes from the French gerfaucon. Its first part may come from an old word for vulture, which refers to its size, or from a Latin word for circle, which refers to how it circles while searching for prey.
Like other falcons, the female is much bigger than the male. Its wings are built for strong, fast flight over open tundra.
Fun facts
- The gyrfalcon is the largest falcon in the world.
- It is the largest falcon in the world.
- Some are pure white, others dark grey-brown, depending on where they live.
- A male gyrfalcon is called a gyrkin in falconry.
On the globe
The globe places the gyrfalcon in Greenland and the Arctic. Look for its pale feathers.
Quiz time
Which is heavier: Gyrfalcon or Atlantic puffin?
Show the answer
Gyrfalcon. (1.4 kg vs 0.5 kg) Atlantic puffin →
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Sources
Updated: 2026-10-14