The gyrfalcon is a bird of prey from the order of Falconiformes of the falcon family. It belongs to the northern birds. The name has been known since the 12th century and comes from the onomatopoeic Old Church Slavonic analogue of the word “to shout”. Listed in the Red Book.
Description of the gyrfalcon
The gyrfalcon is a noticeable and spectacular bird in appearance, slightly reminiscent of. This is the largest bird in the falcon family, strong, smart, hardy, swift and cautious.
Appearance
The wingspan of the gyrfalcon is 120-135 cm with a total body length of 55-60 cm. The female is larger and twice as heavy as the male: the male weighs just over 1000 g, the female - about 1500-2000 g. The gyrfalcon's body is massive, the wings are sharp and long, the tarsus ( bones between the tibia and fingers) are feathered for 2/3 of the length, the tail is relatively long.
The colors of gyrfalcons are very diverse, this is how polymorphism manifests itself. The plumage is dense, pockmarked, and can be gray, brown, silver, white, or red in color. Black coloring tends to be more common in females. The southern subspecies is darker. Males often have light brown plumage, and their white belly can be decorated with a variety of spots and lines. The dark stripe at the mouth opening (“whiskers”) is weakly expressed in the gyrfalcon. The throat and cheeks are white. The eyes are always dark with a characteristic intense gaze. From a distance, the tops of adult birds appear dark, the bottoms are white, and the young gyrfalcon looks dark both above and below. The bird's paws are yellow.
This is interesting! The gyrfalcon acquires its final adult coloration by the age of 4-5 years.
The flight is fast, after several strokes the gyrfalcon quickly picks up speed and rapidly flies forward. When pursuing a victim and diving from above, it can reach speeds of up to one hundred meters per second. A distinctive feature: it rises not in a spiral, but vertically. The gyrfalcon rarely soars; when hunting, it more often uses gliding and flapping flight; it usually sits openly and upright on elevated places in the tundra. The voice is hoarse.
Behavior and lifestyle
It is diurnal and hunts during the day. It can target the victim while being at a very decent distance from it: more than a kilometer. While hunting, he swoops down on her with a stone from a height, grabs her with his claws and bites through her neck. If it fails to kill the prey in the air, the gyrfalcon dives with it to the ground, where it finishes off. Outside the nesting period, a pair of gyrfalcons hunt on their own, but in such a way as not to lose sight of their spouse.
For nesting, it chooses rocky sea coasts and islands, river and lake valleys with cliffs, ribbon or island forests, mountain tundra at an altitude of up to 1300 m above sea level. It nests in hard-to-reach places and avoids humans. The main principle of choosing a habitat is the availability and abundance of food. People have long used the hunting qualities of feathered predators during hunting. The Icelandic white gyrfalcon was considered the most valuable. It was a symbol of prestige and power, especially in southern countries, and not everyone was allowed to acquire such birds. Today it is in greatest danger from poachers.
How long does a gyrfalcon live?
From the moment it flies, according to ornithological studies, until natural death, this feathered predator can live up to 20 years. The lifespan of merlins in captivity can be very short, especially if the bird was taken as an adult. The process of taming the gyrfalcon was also not particularly merciful. In captivity, gyrfalcons do not breed because they simply do not find appropriate conditions for themselves, so if the bird dies, the hunter simply gets a new one, laying out the bait, and everything starts all over again.
Distribution, habitats of the gyrfalcon
We can say that this bird adapts to its favorite area. Some species migrate, while others do not need to migrate, and they live in the forest-tundra and forest belt.
Distributed in the subarctic and arctic zones of Asia, Europe and North America. Some species settled in Altai and Tien Shan. The northernmost points where the appearance of the gyrfalcon is noted is Greenland at 82°15′ N. w. and 83°45′; the southernmost, excluding the mountain Asian subspecies - middle Scandinavia, Bering Island, about 55° N. w. May migrate slightly from alpine zones to valleys.
These birds are widespread in the Russian Far East.. For nesting they choose the northern regions of Kamchatka and the southern part of the Magadan region, and return back in the spring. For this, the gyrfalcon received the name “goose master”. The gyrfalcon's favorite observation posts are rocky ledges that provide a good overview of the territory. On the northern coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula, the gyrfalcon settles on the rocks along with colonies of other birds.
It can fly far into the ocean in search of prey among drifting ice. Usually, young birds aged one or two years fly south in search of food. In winter, gyrfalcons appear on the sea coast, in the steppe and in agricultural areas, and in spring they return to the north. European gyrfalcons migrate in winter, bowheads sometimes spend the winter in Iceland, and sometimes go even further south.
Gyrfalcon diet
The gyrfalcon is a predator, and it hunts mainly warm-blooded animals: birds, rodents, and small animals. This is a skilled hunter, and, as a rule, there is no salvation for the intended victim. The hunting method of the gyrfalcon is the same as that of other falcons. It folds its wings, quickly swoops down on the victim from above, grabs it with its claws and instantly takes its life.
Every day the gyrfalcon eats about 200 g of meat. His favorite food is white and tundra. He also hunts geese, gulls, skuas, ducks, and auks. Even owls get it from it - polar, tundra, and forest. The gyrfalcon will not refuse to feast on a hare.
This is interesting! The unwritten law of nature does not allow the gyrfalcon to attack birds in the area of its home, nor to do this to other brothers. The hunting area and nesting site for each pair of gyrfalcons is preserved and protected from uninvited alien competitors.
Sometimes its prey is fish, sometimes amphibians. Extremely rarely, in the absence of other food, it can feed on carrion. The gyrfalcon carries the prey to itself, plucks it, tears it into pieces near the nest and eats it, and regurgitates the indigestible remains - scales, bones and small feathers. However, he never sets up a dining room in his nest. There is cleanliness there. And the female plucks and tears into pieces the prey brought for the chicks, also outside the nest.
Reproduction and offspring
The average nesting density of gyrfalcon is approximately one pair in an area of 100 km2. The gyrfalcon matures by the end of the first year of life and by this age has already found a mate. The bird is monogamous. The union is created for life, until the death of one of the partners.
The couple prefers not to build their own nest, but to take over one built by a buzzard, golden eagle or raven and build on it. Or they organize a nest among the rocks, on a ledge, between stones, laying grass, feathers and moss there. The place is chosen no lower than 9 meters from the ground.
Gyrfalcon nests can be up to a meter wide and up to half a meter deep. Gyrfalcons tend to return to their nesting site year after year. There are known cases of the offspring of many generations of gyrfalcons hatching in the same nest. In February-March, mating dances begin among gyrfalcons, and in April the female already lays eggs - one every three days. The eggs are small, almost the same size as chicken eggs, each weighing about 60 g. There are up to 7 eggs in a clutch, white with rusty spots.
Important! Regardless of how many eggs were laid, only the 2-3 strongest chicks will survive.
Only the female incubates the eggs, while the male hunts and brings her food.. The incubation period is 35 days. Chicks are born covered with beige, white or light gray down. When the offspring gets a little stronger and becomes more voracious, the female also begins to hunt for the children, leaving them for a while. The mother and father bring the prey to the nest, tear it into pieces and feed the chicks.
The gyrfalcon is an incredibly brave bird; it will not abandon its nest, even if a large predator approaches it, but will attack the uninvited guest, protecting the children. When the baby down of the chicks gives way to permanent plumage, parents begin to teach them to fly and hunt. This occurs at approximately 7-8 weeks of life for the chicks. By the 4th month - this is the middle and end of summer - the connection with the parents gradually weakens and stops, and the young birds begin an independent life.
- a bird of prey, the largest representative of falcons in the world. The so-called "ghost" merlin, which received its nickname for its specific “smoky” color, is one of the most brutal birds of prey in the upper latitudes of the Arctic. During the hunt, it chases prey down in flight or drops like a stone from the sky at breathtaking speed to hit the victim.
on the ground. Breeds on remote cliffs in remote parts of Canada and Alaska. Gyrfalcons in North America are protected from most threats posed by humans and climate warming. They are rare winter visitors to the northern states of America.
Falco rusticolis
Squad: .
Family: Falconiformes.
Genus: Falcons.
View: .
Names in other languages: Gyrfalcon (English); Faucon gerfaut (French); Gerfalke(German); Halcún Gerifalte (Spanish);
The name probably comes from Old Norse, but linguists do not entirely agree with this claim.
Physical characteristics:
Male gyrfalcons reach sizes of 48-61 cm, females about 51-64 cm;
Weight of males 800-1.325 g, females 1.000-2.100 g;
Adult males are much smaller than females: males weigh on average less than 1.5 kg, while females weigh on average about 2 kg. Both males and females tend to change color frequently, ranging from almost pure white to a dark gray-brown color.
Oldest merlin encountered by a human male at least 14 years old in Wisconsin in 2015.
Appearance:
Although the classic color gyrfalcon is white with black spots; individuals are found in shades of white, gray and dark brown. In North America, birds with gray coats are more common than the other two. Adult birds are more heavily ruffled on the back, wings and tail. The color of the legs and feet of adult birds is yellow, while that of juveniles is pale gray. White color predominates in birds living in the upper latitudes of the Arctic, darker in birds in Labrador. Birds in Iceland are predominantly gray in color. white and gray in color, are also equally distributed from west to east throughout Russia and Siberia in particular.
Habitat:
The habitat of gyrfalcons is predominantly arctic tundra. When they fly south during the winter, they seek out areas such as open fields, coastlines, dunes, prairies, and scrub steppes.
Also, the natural habitat for birds of prey such as gyrfalcons is elevated terrain, hills and mountains in the arctic and alpine tundra of northern Canada and Alaska, in areas with abundant populations of partridges or near colonies of nesting or waterfowl, rocky coasts, sea islands , barren rocky lands, river bluffs, lake bluffs and mountainous terrain up to 1,500 km in altitude. The vegetation in the habitat of these birds of prey is mostly low-growing. These are various types of sedge, cotton grass, lichens, moss, willow and birch. But sometimes they risk hunting in small forests and spruce plantations along beaches or dunes. in winter gyrfalcons leave the highest latitudes and altitudes, and can travel relatively far south, such as the northern United States. There they tend to be found in open areas below 900 km above sea level and at altitudes with a high abundance of game birds, including coastlines, ponds, fields, meadows, bushland and river valleys.
Gyrfalcon feeding and hunting:
Hunt gyrfalcons mostly in open areas, sometimes they fly high and attack from above, but more often
moving quickly and low, hugging the ground. They often sit on the ground.
The main prey of gyrfalcons are species of partridges such as white and tundra partridges, but these birds of prey also hunt other birds, including seabirds, waterfowl, waders and even songbirds. As is known, they are not averse to hunting, if possible, such birds as sage grouse, jaegers, gulls, terns, fulmars, auks, pheasants, crows, magpies, tap dancers, savannah buntings and Lapland plantains. Even hawks, owls and even their fellow falcons sometimes become prey for gyrfalcons. They can also hunt small animals such as hares, ground squirrels, lemmings, and young Arctic foxes. They stalk their prey from very high positions, sitting on rocks or directly in the sky.
Attacks merlin hitting your target with a sharp blow from above, bringing it down to the ground and dragging it further along the ground, but not grabbing it in the air; kills the victim by breaking the chest. can fly low and sneak up on victims, drive prey over long distances to drive it, or hover over it, harassing it with deceptive dives downwards.
During the breeding season, female gyrfalcons often hide leftover food that the small chicks cannot eat at one time in the vegetation near the nest, so that later they do not have to worry about finding food for themselves or their chicks. Little is known about foraging outside the breeding season. In a number of cases, it was possible to catch gyrfalcons cutting up frozen partridge in the middle of winter in the Aleutian Islands. During the breeding season, the gyrfalcon family needs, by some estimates, 1-1.5 kg of food per day. This is approximately 2-3 partridges per day, which adds up to approximately 150-200 partridges eaten between caring for the chicks after birth and before they fledge.
They are predators. The largest of them is the gyrfalcon. This bird (the photo reflects all the beauty) is very original.
Gyrfalcons are very hardy. But their population has been declining recently. And this happens mainly due to human intervention. People destroy gyrfalcon nests, destroy birds for fun (they make stuffed animals) or for material gain. Both several centuries ago and today they are used in falconry. An excellent assistant is the gyrfalcon, a bird whose description read below.
Description
The gyrfalcon is distinguished by its beautiful, variegated colors. The abdomen is whitish with a dark tint. This is an excellent camouflage during the egg hatching period. The gyrfalcon has large pointed wings. The bird (the photo clearly shows all its features) has a rather unusual coloring.
The paws are powerful and yellow. It is by color that you can distinguish adults from young animals. The former have more pronounced colors. The color of the bird consists of brown, gray and white shades.
The gyrfalcon is a large bird. With a body length of about 60 cm, the wingspan is up to 135 cm. This is quite impressive. Moreover, females are much larger than males. The weight of an adult reaches 2 kg. But this does not prevent the gyrfalcon from gaining lightning speed after 2-3 wing strokes, which is important during hunting. The gyrfalcon is a very hardy bird. It can pursue its prey for about 1 km.
Externally, the gyrfalcon is very similar to the peregrine falcon, but the former has a longer tail and spots under the eyes are less noticeable.
Habitat
The gyrfalcon is a nomadic bird. Prefers colder habitats. Most fly south in winter. But some representatives of this family lead
Gyrfalcons are common in Asia, Europe and North America. Thus, in Europe, the largest number of these birds was recorded in Iceland (about 2 hundred pairs).
In Russia, gyrfalcons are most widespread in the south of Yamal and Kamchatka.
The main habitats are river valleys, sea coasts, and tundra. The gyrfalcon nests away from humans.
They migrate not only horizontally, but also vertically. Thus, the Central Asian gyrfalcon changes the alpine zone to the valley.
Gyrfalcon nutrition
As already noted, the gyrfalcon is a bird of prey. Their food is small birds and animals: squirrels, hares, gophers, ducks, owls and others. The daily food requirement is 200 g. Gyrfalcons hunt both individually and in pairs, taking turns driving prey.
They look out for their prey from above. They hunt like all falcons: they overtake with lightning speed from above and dig in with their talons. Then they kill by breaking the victim's neck with their beak.
The diet of gyrfalcons differs depending on the time of year. So, in the summer they hunt birds, grabbing them in flight. In winter, there is less such prey, so gyrfalcons begin to catch small animals. If such food is not enough, these predators are not averse to feasting on fish and amphibians.
Gyrfalcons have one peculiarity: they never hunt their little neighbors. Moreover, gyrfalcons do not allow other predators to do this, driving them away from their territory.
Reproduction
Gyrfalcons reach sexual maturity at the age of two years. They choose a mate for life. The mating season begins in winter. The breeding season lasts a week. In April, the female lays one egg every 3 days. Nests are rarely built. They prefer to occupy strangers or nest in rocks under a canopy. The diameter of the nest is about 1 m and its height is approximately 50 cm. It consists of dried grass, moss and feathers. Gyrfalcons try not to change their nests. There are known cases of these birds nesting in one place for many decades.
Raising offspring
As a rule, the female lays 3-4 eggs. The chicks appear after about a month. Family responsibilities among gyrfalcons are strictly divided. After the birth of the offspring, the female looks after the chicks, warming them, and the male gets food. Moreover, before bringing the prey, he plucks it away from the nest. More experienced females can sometimes leave nests and take part in hunting.
The survival rate of gyrfalcon offspring directly depends on the availability of food. An important factor is that the birth of chicks should coincide with the addition of their prey to the family (for example, white hare). After all, a male simply cannot bring large prey to the nest. And small gyrfalcons can die of hunger.
Therefore, the number of offspring of these birds varies depending on the season.
At the age of 1.5 months, gyrfalcon chicks begin to fly and try to hunt themselves. But they do not fly far from the nest. Grown-up chicks begin independent life in the fall.
The gyrfalcon is a bird of the tundra. Since ancient times, gyrfalcons have been valued as a commodity. They were specially caught and resold to participate in falconry. Training the birds took about 2 weeks. Specially trained birds could make up to 70 prey flights per day. Gyrfalcons have been used for hunting for about 10 years. Because of their hardiness, they were highly valued. They were even exchanged for horses. In the 17th and 18th centuries, these birds were specially caught in Russia for further sale to the East.
Gyrfalcon - Today, the number of gyrfalcons is rapidly declining. This is due to the reduction in natural food for these predators. Gyrfalcons also suffer from poachers. So, abroad the approximate cost of these birds is 30 thousand dollars.
In order to preserve this species of birds of prey, hunting them is prohibited, especially in nature reserves. In addition, America, Japan and Russia signed an agreement on the safety of these birds.
The largest of the Russian falcons. Its weight reaches two kilograms, and its wingspan is 135 centimeters. Long, sharp wings allow the bird to make strong, sharp flaps in flight, and it rushes forward without stopping for a second, and its keen vision helps it see prey at a distance of a kilometer. The flight of a gyrfalcon is all dynamics, movement, speed. In ancient times, the ability of falconers to instantly soar upward and suddenly attack a victim was called “stavki.” When attacking a prey, the bird dives sharply, developing a tremendous speed of 100 meters per second. The paws are pressed to the body. Only the long, sharp claws of the hind toes are extended forward. A strong and slightly oblique blow cuts the feather and skin of the victim as if with sharpened knives. The gyrfalcon's menu includes various small birds and animals.
The gyrfalcon is widespread in the northern regions of the country from the shores of the Murman Peninsula to Kamchatka. In the south - in the regions of the Altai Mountains, Sayan Mountains, and Mongolia. Loves open places. Like a commander, the gyrfalcon must choose a point from which everything and everyone can be seen around, where everything depends on your decision. Each pair of falcons settles no closer than 25 kilometers from the other. Gyrfalcons do not build their own nests; they occupy the nests of buzzards or other large birds. The nest is selected at a height of up to 9 meters. There is an unwritten law of nature: a predator does not attack birds in the area of its home and does not allow other birds to do so. The closest neighbors know one more rule: the hunting area and nesting site for each pair of gyrfalcons are preserved from year to year and are reliably protected from uninvited alien competitors
After repairing the nest, the female incubates the offspring, and at this time the male hunts to feed himself and his wife, and performs sentinel duty. After 28 days, the offspring appear. The parents feed their chicks regularly - twice a day. The chicks remain in the nest for three months.
The gyrfalcon is an ancient bird. Its history could be the envy of the most ancient princely family. Already in the 11th century, the Kiev prince Oleg built a falcon yard on his farmstead. Gyrfalcons are mentioned in the “Tale of Igor’s Campaign” and in the first set of Russian laws - “Russian Truth”.
During the years of the Tatar-Mongol yoke, tribute, as one of the most valuable things, included falcons, mainly gyrfalcons.
Currently, hunting for gyrfalcons is prohibited. Nests are protected in nature reserves. On the shore of Issyk-Kul there is the only nursery for rare birds of prey. The gyrfalcon, like most predators, is an orderly in the forest and steppe. And, probably, he is an object of aesthetic and emotional admiration.
And falconry! It is unlikely that any modern sport can compete with it with its passion, dexterity, and physical training of the participants. This is a truly breathtaking sight when a bird, freed by its owner, breaks away from the hand and inexorably overtakes its victim. The gyrfalcon is still considered the best of the best in such hunting.
Etymology of the name
In the Russian language, the word “gyrfalcon” has been recorded since the 12th century (in “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign”). Comes from the ancestors. *krečetъ , which, in turn, goes back to the onomatopoeic verb *krekati .
Field signs
The largest of the falcons. The weight of the male is slightly more than 1 kg, the female - up to 2 kg. The color of the Siberian gyrfalcon is light (lighter than the Lapland gyrfalcon), but variable: from brownish-gray to almost white on top; The ventral side is whitish with a dark pattern. The dark stripe near the mouth (“mustache”) is almost invisible. On the beak, like all falcons, there is a characteristic tooth. Paws are yellow. The flight is fast. The gyrfalcon is similar to the peregrine falcon, but is larger and has a relatively longer tail. The voice is also similar to the voice of a peregrine falcon, but rougher and lower: a hoarse “kyak-kyak-kyak” or a drawn-out “keek-keek-keek”. In spring it can produce a rather quiet and high-pitched trill. The southern mountain subspecies - the Altai gyrfalcon, which many experts consider a subspecies or morph of the saker falcon - is distinguished by a more uniform dark coloration.
In flight, the long, sharp wings are striking; the flight is fast, after several flaps the bird quickly rushes forward, does not soar. A sitting gyrfalcon stays upright. From a distance, the top appears dark, the bottom whitish (adult), dark both above and below (juvenile). The voice “kyak-kyak-kyak” or “keeek-keeek-kseek” is similar to a falcon’s cry, but rougher and lower. During the mating season, the gyrfalcon emits a rather quiet, high-pitched trill.
Spreading
Arctic and subarctic zone of Europe, Asia and North America; a separate subspecies exists in Altai, Sayan, and central (probably eastern) Tien Shan. The northernmost points are in Greenland at 82°15"N and 83°45"; the southernmost, except for the mountain-Asian subspecies, are middle Scandinavia, the Commander Islands (Bering Island, about 55° N). On migrations in the cold season up to about 60° N. w. in North America, Asia, Europe, individual individuals and further south.
Nature of stay
Some individuals are sedentary, others migrate to the south during the winter, concentrating mainly in the forest-tundra, and partly in the forest belt. In addition, there are vertical migrations (the mountainous Central Asian subspecies descends from the alpine zone to the valleys).
Biological description
Reproduction
Falco rusticolusGyrfalcons are sexually mature from the second year of life. The pairs are permanent.
Usually they do not build nests; they often use the nests of ravens or buzzards. Nests are located on rocks, in crevices or niches, most often on cornices covered by a ledge or canopy, but sometimes on open slopes. The nest is primitive, with a small lining of moss, feathers, and dry grass. The usual size is about 1 m in diameter and 0.5 m in height. Gyrfalcons, as a rule, occupy the same nest for many years and even decades (in the European North, there are cases where gyrfalcons nested in the same nest from the 17th century to the present day).
The number of eggs is usually 3-4.
From the end of July and in August, the young migrate from the nesting sites. Broods stay together in August and September.
Limiting factors
Gyrfalcons die from poaching, and in the North also in traps, especially in the arctic fox fishery: in Taimyr, arctic fox traps are set openly, on natural and artificial mounds. If they are not equipped with fences made of stakes, gyrfalcons migrating to the tundra in the fall use them for perching, fall into traps and die. Only in two hunting areas in Western Taimyr with a total area of about 2 thousand km² in November-December 1980-1981. 12 gyrfalcons died in arctic fox traps.
Hunting with a gyrfalcon
In the Middle Ages, Gyrfalcons were highly valued as game birds in falconry (see Falcons) and the government sent a special ship from Denmark to Iceland every year for K.
Gyrfalcons serve as birds of prey and are divided into white K. (Falco candicans, groenlandicus) - the best and most valuable, Icelandic K. (F. islandicus), Norwegian or ordinary (“gray”) K. (F. hyrfalco) and red K. (F. sacer) - now highly valued in Bukhara, Khiva, the Kyrgyz steppes, Algeria, Persia and India, and in the past also in France, England and in the hunt of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, for which they were mined in the Arkhangelsk province. and in Siberia. Gyrfalcons are high-flying birds of prey (haut-vol), and they swoop down on their prey - they “hit” it from above, sometimes grabbing it with their claws and carrying it with them, or just killing it with the force of the blow.
Poachers
In Russia, catching this bird is popular, which is subsequently sent abroad; the cost of one bird is $30,000 on foreign markets.
Gallery
Notes
Literature
- K. P. Haller, “Hunting with Falcons and Hawks” (“Nature and Hunting”, 1882, VII);
- his, “Falconry” (“Lavrentiev’s reference book-calendar for hunters for 1884-85”).
Links
- // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: In 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional ones). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
Categories:
- Animals in alphabetical order
- Species out of danger
- Russia's shrinking species
- Falcons
- Birds of Eurasia
- Birds of North America
- Animals described in 1758
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Synonyms:See what “Krechet” is in other dictionaries:
Merlin- Gyrfalcon used as a bird of prey. Gyrfalcon, a bird of prey of the falcon family. Length up to 60 cm. Distributed in the tundra and forest-tundra of the Northern Hemisphere. Rare everywhere. The gyrfalcon is the first protected bird in Rus': more than 300 years ago it was reserved... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
Merlin- Falco gyrfalco see also 7.2.1. Genus Falcons Falco Gyrfalcon Falco gyrfalco The largest falcon, noticeably larger than a crow. The color of the dorsal side is from brownish gray to smoky, with dark streaks. The belly is whitish. The mustache is almost invisible. Big... ... Birds of Russia. Directory
Bird of prey of the falcon family. Length 50-60 cm. In the tundra and forest-tundra of America and Eurasia. The main food of birds, which the gyrfalcon strikes in flight. Highly valued as a bird of prey. Rare everywhere, protected... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
Gyrfalcon, gyrfalcon, husband. A large bird of prey from the falcon breed with gray-black plumage. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 … Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary
KRECHET, ah, husband. Bird of prey family. falcons. | adj. gyrfalcon, ya, ye. Ozhegov's explanatory dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 … Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary
- (Falco gyrfalco), a bird of the falcon genus. Dl. up to 60 cm. Distributed in the north of Eurasia and North. America, in the Arctic and subarctic zones Pestilence adheres. coasts or forest-tundra. K. couples connect for many years. Nests on steep rocks... ... Biological encyclopedic dictionary
Noun, number of synonyms: 3 bird (723) falcon (26) chelig (2) ASIS Dictionary of Synonyms. V.N. Trishin... Dictionary of synonyms
Merlin. K. are the largest falcons found in the extreme north of the Old and New Worlds. All of them are close to each other and differ mainly in color, which, moreover, varies greatly, both in age and place of origin.... ... Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron
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