Habitat
In Alaska, forage over open terrain or water and nest on cliffs along rivers, mountains, or sea coasts. Breeding habitat arctic and alpine tundra, frequently along rivers and seacoasts. Also, tundra-boreal ecotone, discontinuous spruce stands, drainages, beach strands, dunes, and mountainous regions (Cade 1960, Clum and Cade 1994, Swem et al. 1994).
References
Cade, T. J. 1960. Ecology of the Peregrine and Gyrfalcon populations in Alaska. University California Pub. Zool. 63: 151-290.
Clum, N. J. and T. J. Cade. 1994. Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus). In A. Poole, P. Stettenheim, and F. Gill, eds. The Birds of North America, No. 114. Academy of Natural Sciences., Philadelphia, PA. and AOU, Washington, DC. 20pp.
Swem, T., C. McIntyre, R. J. Ritchie, P. J. Bente, and D. G. Roseneau. 1994. Distribution, abundance, and notes on breeding biology of Gyrfalcons Falco rusticolus in Alaska. Pp. 437-444 in IV World Conf. on Birds of Prey, Berlin.
