Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Gyrfalcon
Scientific name:	Falco rusticolus
Date:	25 Nov 2024
Time:	3:45 pm
Length of time observed:	ca. 4-5 minutes overall
Number:	1
Age:	juvenile
Sex:	unknown, didn't ask
Location:	North of Blue Creek Spring in Blue Creek Valley (north of Howell).
County:	Box Elder
Latilong:	Initially ca. 41.8394, -112.4464, then 41.8343, -112.4561
Elevation:	4650 ft (plus height of pole)
Distance to bird:	At closest about 30 feet.
Optical equipment:	Leica 10x40 binoculars, Nikon Coolpix P1000 camera
Weather:	Mostly overcast with some patches of clear sky.
Light Conditions:	A bit harsh because of low-angle winter sun. The bird was often backlit, but we got very good views when it was on pole above us.
Description: Size of bird:	A bit larger than a peregrine.
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Falcon
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Dark gray-brown or brown-gray above, dark streaks on pale below.
(Description:) Bill Type:	Falcon/raptor
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	We initially found it on a power pole mid-way along 18400 North, where it was being dive bombed by Prairie falcons and ravens. As it looked down on us, we looked up at its face and breast from just below the pole... My eyes widened: "Take its picture, take its picture!" We took our initial photos here. After a minute or two, it took off and flew with very powerful wingbeats south, low to the ground. We lost it for a few minutes and searched for it to the south of the spring until I noticed the swarming Harriers (at least six) back north and knew it had to be there -- and so it was, on a power pole just north of Blue Creek Spring. We took many photos and two videos of it getting attacked by harriers. Eventually it flew off to the southwest, pursued by the harriers and ravens. - Here's what I noticed and wrote down the day of the sighting (with a few subsequent clarifications): -- larger than the Prairie falcons around it -- more massive than the Harriers around it -- big "shouldered" -- overall dingy dark gray or grayish brown above (a bit mottled due to pale feather edging) -- face gray with vaguely-defined darker moustachial mark -- underwing coverts checkered or barred, but missing the black axillaries of the Prairie falcon -- breast and belly heavily streaked -- tail extended past folded wingtips at rest (visible in video) -- heavy feathering on upper legs also streaked -- when it flew, it almost took my breath away because it seemed so unexpectedly powerful (not the more twinkly, shallow beats of a Prairie or even a Peregrine). (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Unsure if the calls on the video are the Gyr or the Harriers attacking it. I'm assuming the latter. I'll look into it later.
Behavior:	Perched on top of wooden power pole, sometimes flinching as some other bird swooped on it. We also saw it fly away at great speed twice, both times just off the ground. As noted above, the flight was anything but leisurely.
Habitat:	Open fields of winter wheat in an extensive area of flat wheat fields and rolling hills. There were some remnant patches of sagebrush here and there, into which it briefly landed before the harriers harassed it out. There was also a warm spring with an associated pond and creek nearby (not frozen). There were a few Russian olives and marsh vegetation associated with the spring, but the bird stayed away from those.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Peregrine: This bird was missing the bold facial pattern of a Peregrine, the wing tips did not extend near the tail tip, plus the color was not right for a Peregrine. Prairie falcon: The color of this bird was darker above than the warm tan of a Prairie, with very bold streaking below, the facial pattern was more diffuse and lacked the hind cheek and nape pattern of a Prairie. The Prairie swooping down on this bird was smaller than the Gyr. The flight of the Gyr was very different: less shallow wingbeats, more powerful. "Wingpit" pattern was different (missing the black axillaries). Buteos: Honestly, and somewhat surprisingly, this is the hardest differentiation, since the bird was very large and with fairly broad wings (though still more pointed than that on what buteos display most of the time). I would say that the overall structure of the bird was more falcon-like (it was more attenuated with a fairly long tail), the moustachial patch on the face, the heavily streaked underparts, the barred/checkered pattern on the underwing coverts, and the powerful flight all add up to eliminate a buteo.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Seen once well on a pole east of Snowville, another time in flight by Ogden Bay refuge. I've seen the comparison species (Peregrines and Prairies) many times.
References consulted:	National Geographic guide Brian K. Wheeler guide ("Raptors of Western North America")
Description from:	Notes made later From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	David S. Wheeler
Observer's address:	2196 South 1000 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84106
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Lauri Taylor and Vivian Schneggenburger were both with me (so semi-independently)
Date prepared:	27 November 2024
Additional material:	Photos; Video [to come later]
Additional comments:	Initial notes were made in the field, expanded that night when I got home a couple hours later.