Hybrid Falcons

A hybrid is a cross between different species. In captivity many species of falcon are hybridised to gain the characteristics of both species. A hybrid also exhibits 'hybrid vigour' which hopefully makes for a better hunting bird. Hybrids do occur in the wild but as they are not as perfect as pure species they usually do not survive and replicate themselves in the wild.

Some of the hybrids housed at the centre:

Male Gyr x Saker

Gyr x Saker

This hybird is widely used in Arabia as it produces a larger version of the Arabs native species - the Saker Falcon. The Gyr Falcon is the largest species of Falcon in the world and originates from around the Arctic circle.

We fly two Gyr x Saker x Saker (One parent 1/2 Gyr, 1/2 Saker; the other a pure Saker Falcon): Thorn who hatched in 2001 and Scratchy who hatched in 2008. Both are excellent display birds and Scratchy attends many outside events each year.

A new falcon for 2008 is 'M' who hatched in 1997. He was previously a show display falcon with another display team, and we will continue to use him the same. He is 50:50 Gyr x Saker.

A new Gyr x Saker hybrid falcon is 'Dodgy'. He hatched in 2009 and is a different colour to all of our other falcons. He is almost black in colouration and shows the variation of colours that falcons can have. 

Gyr x Peregrine

A new display falcon to the centre for 2008 is a male Gyr x Peregrine hybrid named 'Slate'. He is a very powerful falcon and is extremely spectacular and very fast.