Gyrfalcon

Falco rusticolus

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
ABNKD06080
Common Name: 
Gyrfalcon
Scientific Name: 
Falco rusticolus
Naming References: 
B004
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Falconiformes
Family: 
Falconidae
References: 
B004
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

2-4 yrs
References: 
B132

Economic/Human Considerations

falconry bird, environmental health indicator spp
References: 
R077
Habitat
arctic and subarctic open country near cliffs
References: 
B004
H126
Distribution

Ecozones

Arctic Cordillera, Northern Arctic, Southern Arctic, Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains
References: 
B004

Distribution

0.48
Score: 
G
References: 
B004
Winter Distribution Description: 
in breeding range and southward

Number of Occurrences

According to est. numbers of pairs, nest sites are more than 100
Score: 
D
References: 
H126

Area of Occupancy

Prob. Stable
Score: 
-
References: 
LWR01
R077
R126
B132
Population

Population Size

Considerably larger than 700-800 pairs (I.e., more than in Yukon as only 2% of area was ever surveyed) ;Northwest Territories_Nunavut (Shank and Poole 1994). Estimated total pairs about 1,300, estimated total population about 5,000 birds (B132)
Score: 
E
References: 
R077
B132

Density

1 pair per 170- 1500 sqkm in Yukon; 1 pair per 120 to 1333 sqkm (average of 391 sq.kms in mid-Arctic latitudes from Kugluktuk to SE Baffin); In 1982-1996, density was 0.1 - 0.32 nests per 100 sqkm (4-13 nests) in Kugluktuk study area, and 0.1 - 0.43 ne (R077,R126); Northwest Territories_Nunavut (Shank and Poole 1994). Low Canadian Arctic Is. estimated about 175 pairs in 26,000 km of coastline at 1/150 km of coastline, mean internest distance 50 km; mainland coast, estimated about 195 pairs in 8,500 km2 at 1/175–1/875 km2; mainland interior, estimated about 450 pairs in 900,000 km2 at 1/2,000 km2; Mackenzie and Richardson Mtns., estimated about 425 pairs in 150,000 km2 at 1/350 km2.(B132)
Trends

Trends

In Yukon, numbers vary according to willow ptarmigan numbers (R077, R126), National trend = 3 (stable) but need trend (LWR01); Population changes irregular, i.e., not cyclic in some areas (e.g., Alaska, Mindell et al. 1987, Mindell and White 1988, Swem et al. 1994) but cyclic in others (e.g., Yukon, Mossop and Hayes 1994) (B132).
References: 
LWR01
R077
R126
B132
Threats

Threats

Low prey availability, human disturbance; inc. tourism; capture for falconry (now export illegal in NWT due to listing in Appendix I CITES); these threats are of limited effects on NWT populations (R077); Main conservation issue may be harvesting for falconry, which occurs in many western provinces and adjacent U.S. in low numbers, but in the absence of management guidelines (W027)
References: 
R077
R126
W027
B132

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Limited effects of development and disturbance
Score: 
BC
References: 
R077
R126
W027
B132
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
But trends are little known due to fluctuations with prey populaitons and limited threats can be inferred
S Rank: 
S4?
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Suzanne Carriere based on printed references. Reviewed in 2005 by S Carrière based on printed literature only :no change in rank; Reviewed in 2010;no change; Reviewed in 2015, no change; Reviewed in 2020, no change
Last Updated: 
June 18, 2020
Status Designations

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSEWIC Status: 
Not At Risk
References: 
R077

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Clum, N. J., and T. J. Cade. (1994) Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus). In The Birds of North America. No. 114 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists’ Union. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu - B132 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • Downes, C.M., E.H. Dunn and C.M Francis (2000) Canadian Landbird Monitoring Strategy: monitoring needs and priorities into the new millenium.. Partners in Flight - Canada A 9-15 EC-CWS, Yellowknife (L. Wakelyn) - or communicate with Erica H. Dunn, CWS in Hull, QC, at erica.dunn@ec,gc,ca - LWR01 Return
  • Bromley RG (1987) Updated status report on the gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R077 Return
  • Shank, C. (1996) 1996 Central Arctic raptor surveys. RWED, GNWT Internal report S Carriere office; copy in database references - R126 Return
  • Clum, N. J., and T. J. Cade. (1994) Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus). In The Birds of North America. No. 114 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists’ Union. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu - B132 Return
COSEWIC Status
  • Bromley RG (1987) Updated status report on the gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R077 Return

Economic Status

  • Bromley RG (1987) Updated status report on the gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R077 Return

Ecozones

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Habitat

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Bromley RG (1987) Updated status report on the gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R077 Return
  • Shank, C. (1996) 1996 Central Arctic raptor surveys. RWED, GNWT Internal report S Carriere office; copy in database references - R126 Return
  • Dunn, E.H (2005) National action needs for Canadian Landbird Conservation,. Canadian Wildlife Service Landbird Committee, Version 1. [http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/birds/action/index_e.cfm]. - W027 Return
  • Clum, N. J., and T. J. Cade. (1994) Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus). In The Birds of North America. No. 114 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists’ Union. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu - B132 Return

Naming

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return

Population Size

Bromley RG (1987) Updated status report on the gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R077 Return
,
Clum, N. J., and T. J. Cade. (1994) Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus). In The Birds of North America. No. 114 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists’ Union. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu - B132 Return

Range Extent

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Downes, C.M., E.H. Dunn and C.M Francis (2000) Canadian Landbird Monitoring Strategy: monitoring needs and priorities into the new millenium.. Partners in Flight - Canada A 9-15 EC-CWS, Yellowknife (L. Wakelyn) - or communicate with Erica H. Dunn, CWS in Hull, QC, at erica.dunn@ec,gc,ca - LWR01 Return
  • Bromley RG (1987) Updated status report on the gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R077 Return
  • Shank, C. (1996) 1996 Central Arctic raptor surveys. RWED, GNWT Internal report S Carriere office; copy in database references - R126 Return
  • Clum, N. J., and T. J. Cade. (1994) Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus). In The Birds of North America. No. 114 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists’ Union. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu - B132 Return

Taxonomy

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Threats

  • Bromley RG (1987) Updated status report on the gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R077 Return
  • Shank, C. (1996) 1996 Central Arctic raptor surveys. RWED, GNWT Internal report S Carriere office; copy in database references - R126 Return
  • Dunn, E.H (2005) National action needs for Canadian Landbird Conservation,. Canadian Wildlife Service Landbird Committee, Version 1. [http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/birds/action/index_e.cfm]. - W027 Return
  • Clum, N. J., and T. J. Cade. (1994) Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus). In The Birds of North America. No. 114 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists’ Union. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu - B132 Return