The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), the largest of the true falcons, was characterized using next generation sequencing. The mitogenome was 18 218 bp long, and comprised of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA, 2 rRNA and two non-coding regions; a control region (D-loop) harboring two tandem repeats 80 bp and 56 bp long and a pseudo-control region (ΨD-loop) with a tandem repeat 27 bp long. All genes were encoded on the + strand except ND6 and 8 tRNA genes.