Gyrfalcon

The gyrfalcon is the largest breed of falcon in the six kingdoms, and is one of the most majestic and dangerous of raptors. With a wingspan of four to six feet, this falcon is a force to be reckoned with. Gyrfalcons are only found on Gyr Isle and do not migrate to other kingdoms, preferring the cold southern coast of the Land. The gyrfalcon preys on shrews, marmots, lemmings, voles, squirrels, rabbits, hares, and a wide variety of fish and mollusk, and in some cases has been known to eat other falcons, especially the pergrín. Gyrfalcons breed on cliff edges and often use abandoned nests from other raptors to lay their eggs. Gyrfalcons tend to have one to five eggs in a clutch, but it is more common to see two to four in a nest. The only predator of the gyrfalcon is the golden eagle, and it is rare that these raptors would engage in battle with such a formidable foe. These magnificent predators have several different plumage colors, known as "morphs"—these colors being brown, silver, black, and white. Gyrfalcons can live up to twenty years of age.

Gyr Isle
The Isle of Gyr is the only kingdom in the Land to foster gyrfalcons. There are nearly three-hundred gyrfalcons living in the island, most of them nesting in the royal palace and in the surrounding cliffsides. The island is able to support such a large amount of predators because the gyrfalcons do not simply stick to the outskirts of the island; in contrast, they can fly up to fifty miles away from the mainland in search for food, and enjoy the rich sealife that flourish along the coasts of Corvid and Liue. Gyrfalcons near the norther tip of the island also hunt in the kingdom of Corvid and Liue, although this is rare and often frowned upon.

The gyrfalcons of Gyr Isle come in all ranges of colors, but most of the falcons on this island are b



rown morphs, with a smaller population of silver morphs near the tip of the northern coast of the island. Very, very rarely will a white morph be seen in the island. Black morphs are even rarer and are often found to be female, although a couple of black male gyrfalcons have been chronicled in history to have existed.

Chrialt (The Other)
The kingdom of Chrialt, fifteen leagues (45 miles) from Gyr Isle, is home to many gyrfalcons, most of which display silver or white plumage. This is a drastic contrast to the kingdom of Gyr, in which most of the falcons living there are brown morphs, white and silver morphs being the most rare. Never in recorded history has a black morph been found in Chrialt, making Saygar the first to live and rule the kingdom.