THE GREENLAND FALCON, 



105 



Food. — In Iceland mainly Ptarmigan, but also many species of 

 ducks as well as sea-birds (Guillemot, Gulls, etc.), and various 

 waders (Whimbrel, Golden Plover, etc.). In Shetlands also Rock- 

 Dove and Pigeon. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Rare vagrant. Identified examples 

 obtained from time to time (generally in winter) in Northumberland, 

 Westmorland, Yorks., Salop, Scilly Isles, and possibly Lines. ; in 

 Shetlands, Orkneys, O. and I. Hebrides, and several localities Scottish 

 mainland. Four times in north and west Ireland. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Appears to be the only form breeding in 

 Iceland, whence it strays very rarely southwards. Many Greenland 

 birds indistinguishable, but " white " birds apparently not breeding 

 in Iceland. 



244. Falco rusticolus candicans Gm.— THE GREENLAND 

 FALCON. 



Falco candicans Gmelin, Syst. Nat., 1, p. 275 (1788 — "Habitat in 

 Islandia et Scotia boreali " ! As Gmelin distinguished between the 

 white candicans and the dark islandus, the former name has generally 

 been restricted to the Greenland form, though Gmelin did not know its 

 real habitat). 

 Falco candicans J. F. Gmelin, Yarrell, 1, p. 36 ; Saunders, p. 341. 



Description. — 

 Adult male and 

 fern a le. Winter 

 and summer . — 

 Some examples 

 indistin guishable 

 from F. r. islandus. 

 Others very simi- 

 lar but whiter on 

 crown and nape, 

 with white or 

 whitish instead o± 

 pale grey bars on 

 upper-parts and 

 tail and many fewer 

 and finer black 

 markings on under- 

 pays. From such examples every gradation to individuals 

 entirely white on under -parts ; crown and nape white with a 

 few fine black shaft-streaks ; mantle, scapulars, wing-coverts, 

 back and upper tail-coverts white with black restricted to broad 

 spots or incomplete bars not entirely crossing feather ; tail pure 

 white or with shafts, frecklings and a few spots of dark brown ; 

 wing-feathers white with shafts, subterminal bands and a few 

 spots and mottlings of dark brown. This plumage is acquired by 

 complete moult from June to January or even February. 



The Greenland Falcon {Falco r. candicans) 



