Scientific name: Falco rusticolus Linnaeus, 1758
Bird group: Birds-of-prey
Field characters. Length 55-60 cm; wingspan 125-135 cm. In flight differs from Peregrine Falcon in larger size, somewhat longer tail, broader base of wings, more rounded wing-tips, and slower flight action. At rest, considerably paler and more uniformly coloured than Peregrine without black moustachial stripe; wings fall well short of tail. Plumage variable, ranging from white to grey; in Europe grey morph generally prevails. Upperparts with a broadly blotched and barred pattern of dark and light grey; underparts whitish with dark streaks, flanks barred. Unbarred juveniles resemble large juveniles of Peregrine but differences in structure and darkly streaked coverts and body contrast with white flight feathers (juvenile Peregrines show much less contrast).
Voice. Silent outside the breeding season.
Distribution. Fairly rare to rare resident of Iceland and northern Europe.
Habitat. Haunts wild, open country such as rocky coasts, tundra, mountains, taiga edge and steppes.
Food. Searches for prey during low-level flight, after swoop from perch, or by flying high over terrain. Stoops onto prey, killing it by force of strike. Diet depends on habitat: at coastal nesting sites seabirds, at inland tundra sites Ptarmigan, Willow Grouse, and surface-feeding ducks; also takes a variety of other birds and, to a lesser extent, mammals (voles, lemmings, hares).