Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Gyrfalcon
Scientific name:	Falco rusticolus
Date:	January 10, 2021
Time:	1530 MST
Length of time observed:	<1 min.
Number:	1
Age:	Unknown
Sex:	Unknown
Location:	I-15 S, 8-9 miles SW Scipio, UT
County:	Millard
Latilong:	39.1793 - 112. (3939.21639 -112.157218
Elevation:	Not noted
Distance to bird:	30-40 meters
Optical equipment:	None
Weather:	Cloudy, mid-30s F.
Light Conditions:	Flat light
Description: Size of bird:	18-20 inches tall when perched
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Raptor shape
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Overall off-white, grey spotted, mottled wings with black tips when observed in flight
(Description:) Bill Type:	Hooked, raptor beak
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	This bird was smaller than an eagle but larger than a marsh hawk. When first seen, this whitish bird was exhibiting the hunting behavior that was similar to a harrier, in the height (3-4 feet) above ground, slow turning left and right and wingbeats I was observing. It was similar to a hawk hunting while slowly flying over the field. My first thought, from the white color, and the grayish wings, that it was a white-fronted goose, perhaps a speckle-belly goose, or, because it was so white, a snowy owl; but I almost immediately rejected that because there was no long neck or goose/duck shaped head. It was not large like a swan or eagle, and geese don't fly with the loping wing beats and the almost lazy style of flight just above and across the ground (as I reported, it was an open, flat, Pinyon-Juniper, sage/mixed grass area). To me, it appeared it was a hawk/raptor hunting style flight and behavior that was not similar to the straight, more rapid wing beat of a goose or an owl flying in a direct line. About this time I noted the black wing tips which caused me to ask myself, do white-fronted or speckle-belly geese have black wing tips? But, I again rejected any waterfowl because there was no long neck. I also noted that the wing action was not goose-like but more hawk/raptor-like. I did not think it was an eagle because of size. In this - probably an 8-10 second observation of the over-the-ground flight - I came to the conclusion it was some sort of raptor. I did NOT think it a marsh or red-tailed/shouldered or any other kind of hawk based on coloration and wing shapes (wing tips not splayed but pointed). I did consider a peregrine or merlin but this bird was larger). About this time, the bird angled about 45' to his left, still paralleling our travel but coming closer towards us (we were pulling a trailer at about 55 mph) and then swooped upward and landed/perched on a fence post, perhaps 20-25 yards off the highway, folding its wings, which I noted were clearly speckled (grey). Its raptor-like, white head (clearly NOT an owl) turned to its left (presenting the bird's right side and looking back from whence we came) and I immediately concluded this was a white raptor, but not a Peregrine (because this bird was larger, and no coloration like black on head as a peregrine). And, as this observation occurred I was doing all this identification mental activity contemporaneous with and while observing the bird. I have extensive experience in observing all manner of wildlife in the field, particularly in Alaska and wild places because of my professional experience. I did not wonder what I was seeing but almost immediately turned to my spouse and exclaimed, I think that is a gyrfalcon. In other words, I did not wonder what I saw, or later research possibilities but came to a immediate conclusion.
Song or call & method of delivery:	None noted
Behavior:	To me, it appeared it was a hawk/raptor. It appeared it was a hawk/raptor hunting style that was not similar to the straight, more rapid wing beat of a goose or an owl. This was probably an 8-10 second observation of the over-the-ground flight - I came to the conclusion it was some sort of raptor exhibiting a hunting behavior. About this time, the bird angled about 45' to his left, still paralleling our travel but closer towards us (we were pulling a trailer at about 55-60mph) and then swooped upward and landed, then perched on a fence post, perhaps 20-25 yards off the highway, folding its wings, which I noted were clearly speckled (grey).
Habitat:	Open sage/mixed grass pinyon-juniper
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Peregrine, Merlin falcon, are smaller and coloration markedly darker, especially dark wings where the observed bird s wings were dirty white/light grey due to grey speckled spots. Head shape was raptor-like with prominent hooked beak which appeared dark. Eye appeared prominent and black against the all-white head, when bird sat perched. This was not an eagle because it was smaller than both bald and golden eagles. While the observed bird s head was white, the remainder of the body and tail were also white, not black/dark as in a bald and golden eagle. Neither was there black with white mottled spots as in an immature bald eagle. It did not have an owl shaped head and the eyes, observed when perched, were on the sides, not the front of the face as with owl species. The head was above the shoulders while perched and while the neck was not so much apparent the head was not scrunched into the shoulders as an owl might appear When perched. I was able to easily see the head turn to the bird s left and clearly able to see the right, dark eye and the beak (as described) in profile. It was clearly not any sort of waterfowl and was larger than a raven and did not have a typical raven beak or head shape, plus was not black. This observed bird was white/dirty-white all over, except for darker, grey-speckled wings, with black wing tips. The head and body shape was typical of a falcon but larger/taller then a peregrine. I do not believe this was some other bird in simply a white color phase.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I realize my gyrfalcon observation is highly unusual. That is the reason I reported it on EBird; it was my surprise at seeing it - the gyr - at all. I am not a birder. But, I have a BS and MS in natural resources management and have taught both ecosystem and wilderness topics including advanced ecosystem management at the graduate level, but I am not an academician. I was engaged in natural resources management my whole professional career. I had a 30-year career with the National Park Service another 6+ years with the Bureau of Land Management and Department of the Interior. I served as a ranger and resources manager in parks in Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Seven of those years were in Alaska, with lots of field work both with BLM and NPS, the latter when I was superintendent of Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve that includes 130 miles of the Yukon River and has been noted as containing most likely the most natural, large populations of Peregrine falcons and habitat in North America. During my time there in the 1970s and 1980s, I participated in searching for, capturing and tagging dozens of peregrine falcons with a USFWS biologist (Skip Ambrose) over several summers. It was in Alaska that I saw my first gyrfalcon during field work in the Brooks Range and the North Slope evaluating additional lands for inclusion into the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. Following my Federal natural resources management service I also served for 12 years as an expert advisor and evaluated natural (as opposed to cultural) resource nominations by other countries for official inscription as world heritage sites for IUCN and UNESCO. These field evaluations were in Canada, many countries (Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, and the Ukraine) in Europe, and the Russian Federation. While this work was not specifically about avian species, the work always was holistic in wild natural systems and specifically in rare, endangered, and Red-listed species. I spent 20 years as a waterfowl hunter and had to be able to quickly identify and differentiate waterfowl species by gender and which species were legal or not legal prior to pulling the trigger.
References consulted:	None at the time of observation and identification except my own experience, which should be noted that I have worked and handled falcons before and have observed a gyrfalcon in Alaska (ANWR).
Description from:	From memory
Observer:	David Mihalic
Observer's address:	908 Polaris Way, Missoula, MT 59803
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	None
Date prepared:	January 20, 2021
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments: