Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus on Wiese (Vize) Island, Kara Sea

The gyrfalcon is a rare falcon with circumpolar distribution in the low Arctic tundra. For the Russian Arctic islands and archipelagos, it is known as an occasional vagrant only. Here we report late summer sightings of a young female gyrfalcon far beyond its primary range. This find of gyrfalcon on Vize Island in 2020 is the northeasternmost record of this species from Eurasian Arctic. The falcon spent at least two weeks on the island and was able to adapt and master a new food resource, kittiwake fledglings. The young falcon took prey only in flight and often failed while attacking kittiwakes, but hunted one or two gulls daily, which covered its energy demands in full. Under conditions of scarce food resources and few prey species available, when hungry, the gyrfalcon could eat stale food, but only if self-captured. Any new data on the distribution of this rare species expands our understanding of its capabilities for dispersal and exploration of new habitats, adaptations to unfamiliar trophic conditions, and food plasticity.