Incubation lasts about 35 days. The female guards the nest, while the male hunts for food. Both hunt after the young are large enough to be left alone. 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.