Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2024-01
| Common name: |
Gyrfalcon |
| Scientific name: | Falco rusticolus |
| Date: | 12/17/23 |
| Time: | 11am |
| Length of time observed: | 30 seconds |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Juvenile |
| Sex: | Probably female |
| Location: | Rockport Reservoir |
| County: | Summit |
| Latilong: | 40.75778,-111.38988 |
| Elevation: | 6050' |
| Distance to bird: | 150 yards |
| Optical equipment: | Swarovski 8x42 NL |
| Weather: | Partially cloudy |
| Light Conditions: | Clear overall |
| Description: Size of bird: | Large raptor |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Bulky body with pointed wings and long tail |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Dark gray above, paler gray below |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Hooked |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Very large dark falcon that looked superficially similar to a raven in
flight due to the large size, long tail and slow, shallow wingbeats
however the heavy chest and broader based wings were distinctively
unravenlike. Wingtips were more rounded and blunter-tipped than a
Peregrine and differed in the underwing pattern. Dark underwing coverts
and dark wingtips contrasting with paler primaries and secondaries. (Photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | None |
| Behavior: | Hunting low and quickly in active flight along the ridgetops |
| Habitat: | Sage steppe with some junipers mixed in. Sages, rabbitbrushes and grasses predominating the hillsides. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Peregrines Falcons have a more uniform underwing pattern than gyrfalcons and is slimmer and shorter-tailed with
a more pointed wingtip and deeper, snappier wingbeats. Prairie Falcons have a much darker axillaries that contrast with the rest of the underwing coverts American Goshawks will have wider, more rounded wings and a different, more uniform underwing pattern in all ages Other raptor species won't show either the same shape or same underwing pattern as a juvenile gray morph Gyrfalcon |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I've seen one Gyrfalcon back in NY, a gray morph adult. I've seen a wide variety of Peregrine Falcon plumages in Utah and across the US and have seen dozens of Prairie Falcons since I have moved out west. |
| References consulted: | Sibleys 2nd edition. NatGeo Complete Birds of NA, 3rd edition. Dunne's Essential Field Guide Companion. Wheeler's Birds of Prey of the West. Liguori's Hawks at a Distance and Hawks From Every Angle. |
| Description from: |
Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Kenny Frisch |
| Observer's address: | 4609 S Wallace Ln Holladay, UT 84117 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Tim Avery, Mike Hearell, Taylor Abbott, Nate Brown |
| Date prepared: | 1/2/24 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: | The only question about this gyrfalcon is if this is a wild bird. Its behavior is what is consistent for a wild bird and no jesses were observed and I haven't heard of any reports of escaped gyrfalcons. |