noun
- a large Arctic falcon with dark plumage, used in falconry and valued for its hunting prowess
Usage: also spelled 'gerfalcon'; scientific name: Falco rusticolus
Examples
- The gyrfalcon is the largest falcon species in the world.
- Medieval kings prized the gyrfalcon for hunting expeditions.
- Gyrfalcons breed in the Arctic regions of North America, Europe, and Asia.
- The gyrfalcon's powerful talons make it a formidable predator of other birds.
- Birdwatchers traveled to Iceland hoping to spot a gyrfalcon in its natural habitat.
- In falconry, a trained gyrfalcon can pursue game at remarkable speeds.