Crossword clues for gyrfalcon
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Gyrfalcon \Gyr"fal`con\ (j[~e]r"f[add]`k'n), n. [OE. gerfaucon, OF. gerfaucon, LL. gyrofalco, perh. fr. L. gyrus circle + falco falcon, and named from its circling flight; or cf. E. gier-eagle. See Gyre, n., Falcon.] (Zo["o]l.) One of several species and varieties of large Arctic falcons, esp. Falco rusticolus and the white species Falco Islandicus, both of which are circumpolar. The black and the gray are varieties of the former. See Illust. of Accipiter.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context obsolete English) Any large falcon, especially as used to fly at herons. 2 ''Falco rusticolus'', a large bird of prey that breeds on Arctic coasts and islands of North America, Europe and Asia.
WordNet
n. large and rare arctic falcon having white and dark color phases [syn: gerfalcon, Falco rusticolus]
Wikipedia
The gyrfalcon is the largest of the falcon species..
Gyrfalcon may also refer to:
- Gyrfalcon Islands, an uninhabited island group in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, Canada
- Gerfalcon (novel), a fantasy novel by Leslie Barringer
The gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) ( or ), 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. It is mainly a resident there also, but some gyrfalcons disperse more widely after the breeding season, or in winter. Individual vagrancy can take birds for long distances. Its plumage varies with location, with birds being coloured from all-white to dark brown. These colour variations are called morphs. Like other falcons it shows sexual dimorphism, with the female much larger than the male. For centuries the gyrfalcon has been a precious hunting bird, highly valued among the Vikings. Typical prey includes the ptarmigan and water-fowl which it may take in flight. It has also been observed feeding on fish and mammals.
Usage examples of "gyrfalcon".
Although claiming no title higher than Lady, Melina also brought with her the prestige of the Shield name and membership within the House of the Gyrfalcon for her children.
My mother is a Shield of House Gyrfalcon, and so outranks your Wellward mother.
It was a gyrfalcon, as was to be expected, its plumage as black as night.
Kestrel may not be as prestigious a house as that of the Peregrine or the Gyrfalcon, but it is as old and very respected.
Lord Newell, son of the duke of House Gyrfalcon, a third son, unlikely to ever be the heir.
The representative for House Goshawk looked vaguely disappointed, but those for Peregrine, Kestrel, and Gyrfalcon were quite alert.
Moreover, Melina is from House Gyrfalcon, first among the Great Houses.
House Gyrfalcon, traveled across the White Water River into our neighboring country of New Kelvin in company with Baron Wain Endbrook of the Kingdom of the Isles.
He suspected that King Tedric knew just badly House Gyrfalcon needed to prove itself.
She mentioned the importance of House Gyrfalcon, into which Melina had been born, and explained in greater detail than she would have thought necessary about inherited positions.
I have written to my brother, Duke Gyrfalcon, to request that he take in some of these.
It was an enormous snow-white mutation derived from an arctic gyrfalcon the bird that indeed was reserved for kings.
And the gyrfalcon derivative he was carrying was a very sophisticated job of bioengineering.
Her father would have the pleasure of working the gyrfalcon, and she was eager to see it work.
Her father released the gyrfalcon, and it spread its wide wings and rose swiftly to the hunt.