Page 39 - Animals of the Sakhalin Region in myths and legends
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Gyrfalcon
(Falco rusticolus)
The body length of the male is 56 cm, of the female — 64 cm, the wingspan is
124–163 cm. The coloration is polymorphic. There are individuals of the white and
gray variations with transitions between them. In birds of gray color, the dorsal side
of the body is bluishgray with a transverse pattern, and the ventral side is white with
dense spots. The tail has numerous narrow stripes. The eyes are dark.
They feed on birds, in particular white partridges, as well as rodents. In settlements
he catches domestic pigeons.
In the Sakhalin region, it occurs during periods of seasonal migrations, summer
migrations and in winter, in all areas of the region. General distribution — Europe,
Asia, North America.
Once upon a time, the clumsy Partridge and the hunter Gyrfalcon were
siblings. They lived together side by side, having fun and playing with each
other.
But one day Gyrfalcon accidentally killed his beloved sister, without
knowing it himself. When he realized what he had done, a painful scream
filled his throat and escaped from his beak, echoing across the ground. To this
day, the lonely cry of the gyrfalcon can be heard in the hills of Iceland.
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