"The Gyrfalcon is the largest of the world's falcons. It is a bird of tremendous beauty, power and presence, the physical embodiment of its wild and dramatic Arctic habitat. It occurs across the whole Arctic region, from Greenland and Iceland through northern Scandinavia and across Siberia and northern Canada, frequenting the high tundra and extreme north of the boreal forest zone. It is a formidable predator, taking birds as large as Capercaillies and swans, and mammals as large as young Arctic foxes, and is traditionally the hunting bird of choice for kings and emperors - especially the rare and stunning white form of the species." "This book looks in detail at the life of the Gyrfalcon - its systemics and taxonomy, distribution, habitat preferences, hunting methods, breeding behaviour, status, and historical and present associations with people. This highly readable and exhaustively researched monograph is illustrated with numerous photographs, line drawings and text figures. This book will appeal greatly to anyone with an interest in birds of prey, and especially to those who admire this magnificent raptor."--BOOK JACKET.