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Gyrfalcon

Falco rusticolus

Bird · family Falconidae · order Falconiformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
13 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
15 years[4]

The Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) is a bird in the falcon family, Falconidae[5]. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act, and NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide[1][2].

Conservation status

Worldwide, NatureServe gives the Gyrfalcon a rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. In the United States its national rank is Vulnerable for breeding birds and Vulnerable for nonbreeding birds[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The bird is not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act[1]. It is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8]. It is also in CITES Appendix I, which sets controls on international trade[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N3B,N3N (Vulnerable (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
CITES (international trade)[9] Appendix I
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[10] 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Gyrfalcon lives

NatureServe lists the Gyrfalcon as native in 13 US states and territories: Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming[3]. The state status table on this page shows the NatureServe rank for each one[11]. Park service lists record the bird in 26 park units[12].

Alaska: native, state rank S4AKMaine: native, state rank S1NMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: native, state rank S2NWAIdaho: native, state rank SNAIDMontana: native, state rank SNAMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRNMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: native, state rank SNRNMINew York: native, state rank SNRNNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: native, state rank SNAWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S3NSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: native, state rank SNANJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: native, state rank SNACONebraska: native, state rank SNRNNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[11].
Show state ranks (13 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlaskaS4Apparently Secure
ColoradoSNANot Applicable
IdahoSNANot Applicable
MaineS1NCritically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
MichiganSNRNNot Ranked (nonbreeding)
MinnesotaSNRNNot Ranked (nonbreeding)
MontanaSNANot Applicable
NebraskaSNRNNot Ranked (nonbreeding)
New JerseySNANot Applicable
New YorkSNRNNot Ranked (nonbreeding)
South DakotaS3NVulnerable (nonbreeding)
WashingtonS2NImperiled (nonbreeding)
WyomingSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records conifer woodland, alpine areas, tundra, cliffs, herbaceous wetlands and tidal flats or shores as Gyrfalcon habitat[13]. The bird mostly lives in open country in the Arctic, including mountains and rocky seacoasts[14]. In winter it is generally found near the coast[14]. It usually nests on a cliff ledge, often under an overhang, and sometimes uses trees or man-made structures[14].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[13]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Gyrfalcon is a meat eater[15]. Its diet is made up of warm-blooded vertebrates[16]. Birds are the main food, and ptarmigans make up 85 to 95% of the diet by weight[17]. Small mammals matter in some areas and for young birds[17]. A typical adult is about 64 cm (25 in) long[18]. Clutches are most often 3 to 4 eggs, and birds first breed probably at 2 years[19]. The oldest known wild bird from banding records was at least 15 years 9 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[18] 64 cm (25 in)
Typical adult weight[20] 2.1 kg (5 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[21] 13.5 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 15 years 9 months
Litter or clutch size[22] 3.72
Gestation or incubation[23] 35 days
Female maturity[24] 730 days (about 2.0 years)
Food habits[15] Carnivore
Migration[25] non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[16]

  • 100% warm-blooded vertebrates

When to look for it

The Gyrfalcon is diurnal, which means it is active during the day[26]. Some birds stay put, some move short distances and some travel far, depending on the population[25]. Many birds from the high Arctic, especially young ones, move south for winter[27]. Observation records on GBIF in the United States are highest in January, February and June[28]. Those records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[28].

January: 85 recordsJanFebruary: 130 recordsFebMarch: 31 recordsMarApril: 24 recordsAprMay: 29 recordsMayJune: 68 recordsJunJuly: 36 recordsJulAugust: 35 recordsAugSeptember: 45 recordsSepOctober: 32 recordsOctNovember: 43 recordsNovDecember: 51 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[28].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January85
February130
March31
April24
May29
June68
July36
August35
September45
October32
November43
December51

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Gyrfalcon as present in 26 park units[12]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 2 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Alaska, Washington, New York, Minnesota, Oregon[29]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Gyrfalcon endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide[2].
Where does the Gyrfalcon live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as native in 13 US states and territories, including Alaska, Washington, New York and Minnesota[3]. GBIF records are most plentiful in Alaska, Washington, New York, Minnesota and Oregon, but that follows observer effort[29].
What does the Gyrfalcon eat?
It eats mostly birds, and ptarmigans make up 85 to 95% of the diet by weight[17]. Small mammals are important in some areas[17].
How big is a Gyrfalcon?
A typical adult is about 64 cm (25 in) long[18].
How long does a Gyrfalcon live?
The oldest known wild bird from banding records was at least 15 years 9 months old[4]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan[21].

Facts and sources

  1. Gyrfalcon is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Gyrfalcon: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Gyrfalcon as native in 13 US states and territories: Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, South Dakota, Washington, Wyoming. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Gyrfalcon from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 15 years 9 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) is a bird in the family Falconidae, order Falconiformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N3B,N3N (Vulnerable (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Gyrfalcon is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix I (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe state ranks for Gyrfalcon (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  12. NPSpecies park lists recording Gyrfalcon as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  13. Habitat types NatureServe records for Gyrfalcon: Woodland - conifer, Alpine, Tundra, Cliff, Herbaceous wetland, Tidal flat/shore. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on habitat for Gyrfalcon. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 100% warm-blooded vertebrates. EltonTraits 1.0
  17. NatureServe notes on food for Gyrfalcon. NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 64 cm (25 in). NatureServe Explorer
  19. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Gyrfalcon. NatureServe Explorer
  20. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 2.1 kg (5 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  21. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 13.5 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  22. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 3.72. AnAge
  23. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 35 days. AnAge
  24. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 730 days (about 2.0 years). AnAge
  25. NatureServe migration category for Gyrfalcon: non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  26. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  27. NatureServe notes on migration for Gyrfalcon. NatureServe Explorer
  28. GBIF observation records of Gyrfalcon in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  29. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Gyrfalcon: Alaska, Washington, New York, Minnesota, Oregon. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.