Remember to refill your outside bird and critter feeders.

[In_The_Wind]

One of these guys has been hunting all around my home lately.
Actually spotted it stalking from my porch rail.

[Vinca]

1. Beautiful bird. What is it?

One of the items on today's agenda is filling up the bird feeder. I also hang a couple of suet cake nut thingies off the garage for the woodpeckers.

[In_The_Wind]

2. That is a Gyrfalcon.

The gyrfalcon, also spelled gerfalcon, is a bird of prey, the largest of the falcon species. The abbreviation gyr is also seen in the literature. It breeds on Arctic coasts and tundra, and the islands of northern North America, Europe, and Asia.

Scientific name: Falco rusticolus

Rank: Species

Higher classification: Falcon

Did you know: A mating of a pair of captive gyrfalcons is documented to have produced a clutch of four young: one white, one silver, one brown, and one black. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyrfalcon


Gyrfalcon Nestling, Alaska,

The Gyrfalcon is the largest of all falcon species, and is found in cold northern climes. Though they are sleek and dignified-looking as adults the nestlings are, well, somewhat less so. Though this little one does have a rather stern look nevertheless.

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credit: USFWS Alaska Jaymi Heimbuch (@JaymiHeimbuch) Science / Natural Sciences December 2013 9 of 16 A baby Gyrfalcon peers indignantly at the camera.

[Vinca]

3. Thanks for the info. I'll have to check my Audubon guide to see if they might be in my area.

[crazycatlady]

4. Those pictures are stunning

Beautiful bird.