Winter brings wondrous birds. Unrivalled 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.
