Winter brings wondrous birds. Among these is the majestic
Gyrfalcon, a regal visitor from the Arctic where it nests.
"Gyrs" are
among the largest falcons in the world, with the female – the larger of
the sexes – outranking even a Red-tailed Hawk in size.
With a name that
derives from an Old Norse word for "spear," the Gyrfalcon was a medieval
falconer’s prize, reserved for royalty.
Find out more on BirdNote, Saturdays on VPR, just before the 9 o’clock news.