Gyrfalcon
Gyrfalcon has declined: down 43% on the route-weighted index since 1994.
About the Gyrfalcon
The Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) is a North American member of the Falcons & Caracaras (Falconidae). In this analysis it is grouped with the birds of prey.
- Size
- 10–23.5 in long (25–60 cm) — a streamlined raptor (typical for the family)
- Habitat
- Open country, woodlands, cliffs and wetlands, hunting from the air or a high perch.
- Diet
- Live prey — small mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and large insects (carrion for vultures).
- Range
- Recorded on 12 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 1 state, most concentrated in the BCR 2.
- Family
- Falconidae · Birds of prey
Notable Gyrfalcon Trends
No notable trend signals for Gyrfalcon. See the full index history below.
Gyrfalcon Population Forecast
If the recent trend holds, Gyrfalcon is projected to stay roughly flat through 2027, near 0.00 (95% range 0.00–0.00). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±43.4%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
| Year | Projected index | 95% low | 95% high |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 2024 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 2025 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 2026 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 2027 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Where the Gyrfalcon Is Detected
BBS routes recording Gyrfalcon, sized by most recent count.
Gyrfalcon Population Trend by State
| Alaska | -57% | 1994 | 12 |
Gyrfalcon Population Trend by Region
Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.
| BCR 2 | +110% | 1995 | 6 |
Gyrfalcon Conservation Status
Our route-weighted index shows it down about 43% since 1994.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.