Rare Bird Report 19-B-09
IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM
 
SPECIES: Gyrfalcon
 
HOW MANY: 1
 
REPORTER: 
Mike Woodhouse
3840 Summer Sun Dr.
Idaho Falls, ID. 83404
208-313-2903
 
REPORTER EMAIL: eyezaya50@yahoo.com
 
OTHER OBSERVERS:
Found: Mike Woodhouse
Observer: Roger Spillman
 208-317-5523
Observer: George Denning
 208-317-5531
 
DATE REPORT PREPARED: 
03/08/2009
 
DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: 
03/07/2009
 
LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:
Sterling WMA (Johnson Segment)
East 1/4 mile Midway Rd (2500 W) & Vanderford Rd. (1500 S.)
East of Aberdeen, Idaho.
 
HABITAT:
Marsh Pond, cultivated fileds, 
 
CONDITIONS:
Observed Birds for 2-3 minutes.
Weather was partly cloudy, cold (15-20 degrees) Winds 25-20 Mph.
Distance apprx. 100ft. 
early afternoon sun
Nikon 10x50 Binnoculars
Nikon D300 w/70-300mm lens.
 
DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: 
No, not at all
 
DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: 
Yes, another day after the observation
 
WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?:
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. 5th edition
 
DESCRIPTION: 
Falco rusticolus
Length: 20 inches Wingspan: 48 inches 
Very large falcon 
Long, broad-based, pointed wings 
Short, dark, hooked beak 
Flight feathers distinctly paler than wing linings
Spotted wing linings 
 
 
 
 
BEHAVIOR: 
Landed and perched on power line crosspole for a couple of minutes, then flew off.
 
HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU?
Identified 03/08/2009
Verification from Cliff & Linda Weiss, Jacob Briggs, and two S. Dakota Birding Websites.
http://wildphotosphotography.com/WildPhotos/Gyrfalcons/gyrfalcon.htm
http://sdakotabirds.com/species/gyrfalcon_info.htm
 
HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY?
Larger Bird, color, spotted underwing, Gray back with white rims around feathers
 
EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): 
No experience with this particular Species. Have seen several Prairie Falconds, and American Kestrels.
 
GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: 
 Novice at Birding. Interest has been mostly due to a desire to photograph Birds, and Animals in their natural habitat.
 
WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?: 
 
 Photo 

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