Gyrfalcon`s are back.

[zack]

There were 3 of which 1 was an adult and the other 2 Juveniles seen on Dixon Rd .121-crop by Henry Wall, on Flickr

[birderbert]

Not a Gyr!

[paulos]

That's a peregrine there. A Gyrfalcon doesn't have such a dark, large, solid cheek mark. Did you get shots of the other birds?

[zack]

Bert and Paulos i have yet to see a Peregrine fly at more than 80 kph at a height of 2 meters.

[birderbert]

WIKI has Peregrines at 110Kph in level flight. Regardless, your image is of a Peregrine Falcon!

[paulos]

You have to consider multiple criteria when identifying birds, especially raptors, not just habits alone. For falcons the head plumage is very important. Also consider the size (if you have something to compare it to--otherwise this is difficult), the breast and belly, and overall colour and shape. Reading the text in field guides can be more important than the pictures as it often calls attention to distinctive field marks to note.

A good book on raptor identification is Jerry Liguori's Hawks from Every Angle.

I've also seen peregrines hunting fast and low on coastal marshes. One nearly ran into me as I was walking on a dike. It was using the dike (like a Gyrfalcon does) for cover as it flew quickly to surprise a Western Sandpiper flock. The peregrine is the fastest animal in the world, so I don't think there's any situation where high speed and low flight would disqualify it. Using that kind of habit to identify a raptor needs to be accompanied by "hard" evidence--structure, plumage, etc.

[Gord]

I had a report of a Gyrfalcon at Sumas Prairie recently so there's for sure at least one around.

Might be a good year for northern raptors as a Snowy Owl was also reported west of us.

[zack]

A Peregrine Falcon 004-crop120 by Henry Wall, on Flickr . I think these 2 photos will show you that bottom bird is a Gyr since they are both Juveniles.

[paulos]

Is this last one the same bird as the first picture above? Are there specific field marks you notice that tell you this is a Gyrfalcon?

I am still of the opinion that this is a peregrine. The peregrine face pattern is unique and not shared by Gyrfalcons. Peregrine juveniles are not all identical; peregrines exist in a range of plumages. Both these birds could easily fit within that range. In other words, just because the juveniles look different (and they do) doesn't mean they are different species. Plumage is variable and identification relies on more than just the apparent difference.

If the bird on the grass here were a juvenile Gyrfalcon it would usually have a darker front end to its facial markings (looking a bit like a darker line under the eye) or sometimes the appearance of a solid brown face. The rounded patch, with light marks behind it, is characteristic of most of the peregrines around here. Your peregrine juvenile on the rocks has a more intermediate facial mark compared to other peregrines. Juveniles of both species are similar, but this one has the characteristics of a peregrine.

[Jamie]

For certain that's a Peregrine Falcon

The comparison photos you posted were helpful. It shows that the bottom one is for sure a Peregrine, since both photos look similar

Here's a photo of a juvenile Gyr. Notice the thin mustache. Your Peregrine has quite the solid cheek patch.

[zack]

055 by Henry Wa010-crop-crop by Henry Wall, on Flickrll, on Flickr

[zack]

So is this not a Gyrfalcon look at the Black Feathers on the side of the head looks pretty wide to me, and if you think it is a Peregrine then it would the first one to nail a Mallard Duck in flight. The first photo shows how low to the ground that they fly when they are going after their prey just like the 3 that i saw last week. Finally Jamie let me close with a Quote from your dad from 3 or 4 years ago when he posted why i love the Gyrfalcon , because it is the size of a Red tailed Hawk with speed of a Falcon.