The Gyrfalcon

by Eugene Potapov and Richard Sale

• ISBN13: 9780300107784
• ISBN10: 0300107781
• Format: Trade Book
• Copyright: 2005-09-28
• Publisher: Yale University Press

Summary

This book is the definitive guide to the largest and most charismatic species of falcon in the world, the Gyrfalcon. With detailed information on life history characteristics, ecology, conservation issues, and much more, the book presents the most accurate, up-to-date, and complete view of this spectacular bird ever published.Drawing on extensive research and travel to every country within the range of the Gyrfalcon, Eugene Potapov and Richard Sale delineate a new map of the bird's range, conclude that the Gyrfalcon is more adaptable than previously thought, and restore the traditional Linnean scientific name of the species,Falco gyrfalco.The authors also reveal that Gyrfalcons, for much of their lives, are true stenophagous raptors, a rarity not only among raptors but among all birds.Elegantly illustrated with many photographs and line drawings, this is an essential volume for ornithologists, ecologists, wildlife rehabilitators, falconers, and all others fascinated by birds of prey.

Author Biography

Eugene Potapov is head of research at The Falcon Research Institute in Carmarthen, UK. Richard Sale is a freelance writer and photographer who works primarily in the Arctic and Antarctic

Table of Contents

Preface	7	(190)
1 PALAEOBIOGEOGRAPHY AND SYSTEMATICS	11	(31)
The palaeobiogeography of the Gyrfalcon	11	(5)
The systematic position of Gyrfalcon	16	(15)
Gyrfalcon statistics	31	(11)
2 IDENTIFICATION AND COLOURS	42	(24)
The identification of Gyrfalcons	42	(4)
Colours	46	(8)
Colour patterns	54	(12)
3 DISTRIBUTION	66	(15)
Iceland	68	(1)
Scandinavia	69	(1)
Russia	70	(6)
Alaska (USA)	76	(1)
Canada	77	(1)
Greenland	78	(1)
Stability of the range	79	(2)
4 POPULATION	81	(10)
Total numbers in different countries and regions	81	(4)
Fluctuations in numbers	85	(6)
5 HABITAT AND LANDSCAPE PREFERENCES	91	(22)
Habitat preferences	91	(3)
Nest building	94	(2)
Nesting habitat and nest descriptions	96	(9)
Nest site fidelity	105	(2)
Territory use	107	(1)
Breeding density and inter-nest distances	108	(5)
6 FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS	113	(27)
Diet	113	(1)
Food processing	114	(3)
Diet: European studies	117	(2)
Diet: Asian studies	119	(1)
Diet: North American studies	120	(3)
Unusual prey and evidence of selective pressure	123	(2)
Species diversity	125	(1)
Hunting behaviour	126	(8)
Reactions of the quarry	134	(2)
Food caches	136	(1)
Food consumption	137	(3)
7 BREEDING CYCLE	140	(30)
Pre-laying	141	(1)
Courtship behaviour	142	(8)
Laying and hatching dates and duration of incubation	150	(3)
Egg size	153	(1)
Clutch size, brood size and breeding rate	154	(5)
Sex ratio and development	159	(2)
Behaviour of the parents	161	(7)
Post-fledging life	168	(1)
Survival of adults	169	(1)
8 DISPERSAL, SEASONAL MOVEMENTS AND WINTER DISTRIBUTION	170	(13)
Ringing Data	173	(1)
Winter sightings and wintering range	174	(6)
Results of satellite telemetry	180	(1)
Open-sea observations	181	(2)
9 COMPETITORS, COMMENSALS AND CONSPECIFICS	183	(14)
Nest builders	184	(2)
The Raven - a very special neighbour	186	(2)
Relationships with Eagles	188	(2)
Relationships with Rough-legged Buzzards	190	(1)
Relationships with Peregrine Falcons	191	(1)
Relationships with Accipiters	192	(1)
Relationships with small falcons	193	(1)
Relationships with other species	193	(2)
Commensalisms	195	(1)
Reaction to conspecifics	196	(1)
10 MAN AND FALCONS	197	(19)
Cults of birds of prey	197	(10)
Falconry	207	(9)
11 THREATS AND CONSERVATION	216	(22)
Natural Enemies	217	(1)
Parasites	218	(1)
Chemical Pollution	218	(3)
Persecution as vermin	221	(1)
Gyrfalcons as food or bait	222	(1)
Human disturbance	222	(2)
The effect of Arctic Fox trapping	224	(4)
The effect of Arctic whaling	228	(1)
Genetic pollution	229	(1)
Egg and museum collections	230	(1)
The trapping of falcons: past and present	230	(6)
The future	236	(2)
Appendix: Scientific names of plants and animals mentioned in the text	238	(6)
Glossary	244	(6)
References	250	(31)
Index	281