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FALCONS AND CARACARAS

Family FALCONDIDAE

353. WHITE GYRFALCON. _Falco islandus._

Range.--Arctic regions; south in winter casually to northern United
States, chiefly on the coast.

Gyrfalcons are large, strong, active and fearless birds, about 23 inches
in length. Their food consists chiefly of hares, Ducks and Waders which
abound in the far north. The present species is snowy white, more or
less barred with blackish brown on the back and wings and with a few
marks on the breast. They nest upon the ledges of high cliffs, laying
three or four eggs of a buffy color, blotched and finely specked with
reddish brown, this color often concealing the ground color. Size of
eggs, 2.30 x 1.80. In America, they nest in Greenland and the Arctic
regions.

354. GRAY GYRFALCON. _Falco rusticolus rusticolus._

Range.--Arctic regions; south in winter to northern United States.

This species is of the size of the last but the plumage is largely gray,
barred with dusky. They nest more abundantly in southern Greenland than
do the preceding species. The nesting habits and eggs do not differ.

354a. Gyrfalcon. _Falco rusticolus gyrfalco._

Range.--Arctic regions; south casually to Long Island.

This sub-species is hardly to be distinguished from the preceding; its
nesting habits and eggs are identical, the nests being of sticks, lined
with weeds and feathers and placed upon the most inaccessible ledges of
cliffs.

[Illustration 220: Gray Gyrfalcon. White Gyrfalcon.]
[Illustration: Buff.]
[Illustration: Buff.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

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354b. BLACK GYRFALCON. _Falco rusticolus obsoletus._

Range.--Labrador; south casually, in winter, to Long Island.

A slightly darker variety. Eggs indistinguishable. Data.--Ungava coast,
Labrador, May 25, 1900. Nest a heap of seaweed and feathers on sea
cliff, containing three eggs.

355. PRAIRIE FALCON. _Falcon mexicanus._

Range.--United States west of the Mississippi, and from Dakota and
Washington southward to Mexico.

This species abounds in suitable localities, generally placing its nests
upon rocky ledges and cliffs, and sometimes trees, generally upon the
banks of some stream. The nests are masses of sticks, lined with weeds
and grasses. The three or four eggs have a reddish buff ground color,
and are thickly sprinkled and blotched with reddish buff brown and
chestnut; size 2.05 x 1.60.

356a. Duck Hawk. _Falco peregrinus anatum._

Range