GREENLAND FALCON.
FALCO CANDICANS, J. F.
Falco candicans, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 275 (1788); Naum.
i. p. 269, xiii. p. 16; Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 36; Dresser, vi.
p. 21.
Falco gyrfalco, Macg. iii. p. 284.
Jagd-Falke, Edel-Falke, Griinlandischer-Falke, German.
This beautiful Falcon is a scarce and irregular winter
visitor to the United Kingdom. From the fact that
two, or perhaps three, species, of which the present
bird is one, were formerly lumped together under the
name of “ Jer ” (properly “ Gyr ”) Falcons, a good deal
of confusion has arisen as to the identification in several
instances of the occurrence of the northern Falcons in
our Islands; but this species is to be distinguished at
all ages from the Iceland and Norway Falcons by the
fact (first made known by Mr. John Hancock) that the
ground-colour of its plumage is always white, whereas
the two birds last named have a generally darker
plumage, marked with white or light grey; to the eye
of a falconer there is a peculiar “ make 1 and character
about the Greenland Falcon that are quite sufficient to
GREEN LA N D FALCON.
Falco candicans, J. F . Gmelin.