@utzoo.uucp (snell) (01/14/88)
In article <88@scovert>, jonl@sco.UUCP (Jon R. Luini) writes: >I was wondering if anyone could give me some detailed information on >the origination of Gyrfalcon, the correct pronunciation >(grr-falcon, jire-falcon, or what?) and any other interesting info. >I figure it's about time i learned more about something which i have been >so associated with for the past year and a half. From what i understand, >a Gyrfalcon is a white falcon (the name of my band is "Falcon White", >thought up by my friend) and i have grown more interested in falcons >as time has progressed, so any information would be appreciated. > Gyrfalcons are large, usually whitish, birds of prey. There is more than one morph (colour phase) of this species, and some are very dark indeed. They breed in the very high arctic, right up to Ellesmere Island at >80 degrees north. They winter in the very northern boreal forest, though occasionally may be seen in the south (south would be near the northern part of the continental USA). The females are bigger than the males (for reasons which are incompletely understood). For a general reference, try the _Revised Birds of Canada_ by E. Godfrey, which is available in any decent bookstore. Another excellent general reference, though likely only available in a good library or by special order for much $$$) is _Eagles, Hawks and Falcons of The World_ by Brown and Amadon. As well, there was an article on Gyrfalcons in a recent issue of _Equinox_. Pronounce it as jeer-falcon or gear-falcon (both rhyme with beer...) And as to derivation, I would refer you to _The Dictionary of American Birds, Revised Edition_ by E.A. Choate. From Choate, is the following: "The first syllable, the root _gyr_, seems to have caused a great diversity of opinions among etymologists. Here are some: (1) Webster's New World Dictionary, Germanic, _ger_, "spear"; (2) Albertus Magnus, L. gyro, "to circle," from the bird's habit of circling; (3) Funk and Wagnalls New Standard Dictionary, Gr. _hieros_, "sacred," as only royalty might hunt with them; (4) Skeat traces the word after several stages back to HG. _gir-_ for _giri_, "greedy" (whence also _G. geirer_, "a vulture"); (5) Coues quotes the Century Dictionary, "not connected with _L. gyrus_, `a circle' but with _G. geier_, `greedy'"; (6) The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology says, "The first element (of Gyrfalcon) is obscure." Various forms "have led to unjustifiable attempts to relate the first syllable to _L. gyrare_, `gyrate,' and Gr. _hieros_, `sacred.'" In spite of the fact that the term _Hierofalcon_ Cuvier, and early generic name, seems to lend some sanction to the Greek origin, it is most likely that the first element in the word is related the G. _geier, "greedy"; (7) Weekley suggests ON. _verthr_, "worthy," and that _gyr_ is due to wrong etymology, confused with gyrate. "Various spelling of the word have not contributed to its etymological clarity, as Coues notes that we have in English, "gerfaulcon, gerfaucon, gerfawcon, jerfaucon, gierfalcon, girefaucon, gyrfaucon, and gerfauk among others with many identical or similar forms in other European languages." He remarks on the spelling as follows: "_Gyrfalcon_ is the worst, _gerfalcon_, the better, _jerfalcon_ the best spelling of the name, if we regard the etymology of the word." It is quite possible Coues was not overfamiliar with the terms used in falconry which differentiated between the male and female. Despite the welter of words, _gyrfalcon_ was commonly the proper name for the female, as Swain states: "The male being formerly called the Jerkin (either diminutuve of Jer or else from Jerkin, a short coat, hence indicating inferior size)." With Dr. Coues thus disregarded we can appreciate the contribution of the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list for standardizing the common bird names." -- Name: Richard Snell Mail: Dept. Zoology, Univ. Toronto Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A1 UUCP: {allegra,decvax,ihnp4,linus,pyramid,yetti,utai}!utzoo!snell