After 46-49 days, the young fledge and take their first flights. Although not a long distance migratory species, some gyrfalcons migrate as far south as the northern United States during winter months. Falcons usually catch their prey, primarily birds, in the air. In order to do so, they are built for speed with long, pointed wings and long tails. Falcons have notched beaks for quickly killing their prey by severing the spinal cord.
All falcons have dark eyes, dark facial markings and long toes for catching their avian prey.
A powerful and agile hunter, the flight of gyrfalcons is characterized by rapid, steady wing beats alternating with occasional short glides. Gyrfalcons seldom use this diving tactic to secure a meal. Instead, they fly at such great speeds that they actually overtake birds, such as waterfowl, in full flight. Few peregrines could match this skill. Peregrine falcons are generally thought to be the fastest birds, with diving speeds of up to 200 miles per hour.