National birds of the countries of the world...

Photo - by Larry Boudre / Macauley Library

GYRFALCON (Falco rusticolus)

National Bird  of Iceland

The national bird of Iceland is the Gyrfalcon.   It is the largest falcon in the world.   It is a fierce predator of the High Arctic, where it chases down ptarmigans in flight ans plummets down from the sky at high speeds to strike prey on the ground.   Nesting on remote cliffs in the far reaches  of Canada, Alaska and the North Atlantic, Gyrfalcons are safe from human disturbances but face challenges from warming climate changes.

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BarrytheBirder