Amur Falcon

Amur falcon, Falco amurensis, Amurfalke, Cernícalo del Amur, faucon de l'Amour, birds of kenya, birds of africa, migrant birds, migrants, Nicolas Urlacher, wildlife of kenya, raptors, raptors of kenya
Names, conservation status and distribution
Amur falcon, Falco amurensis, Amurfalke, Cernícalo del Amur, faucon de l'Amour, birds of kenya, birds of africa, migrant birds, migrants, Nicolas Urlacher, wildlife of kenya, raptors, raptors of kenya
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Amur falcon, Falco amurensis, Amurfalke, Cernícalo del Amur, faucon de l'Amour, birds of kenya, birds of africa, migrant birds, migrants, Nicolas Urlacher, wildlife of kenya, raptors, raptors of kenya
Ol Pejeta Conservancy

The Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) is a small raptor of the falcon family. It breeds in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China before migrating in large flocks across India and over the Arabian Sea to winter in Southern Africa. The Amur falcon breeds in east Asia from the Transbaikalia, Amurland, and northern Mongolian region to parts of North Korea. They migrate in a broad front through India and Sri Lanka, sometimes further east over Thailand and Cambodia and then over the Arabian Sea, sometimes in passage on the Maldives and other islands to reach southern Africa. Birds going over India are thought to be aided by strong winds blowing westward. These winds are strong at an altitude of about 3000m and the birds are thought to fly at a height of above 1000m during migration. The route taken to return to their breeding grounds runs slightly more northward. Vagrants have been recorded as far west as in Italy, Sweden, Tristan da Cunha, St. Helena and the United Kingdom.

The Amur falcon feeds mainly late in the evening or early in the morning capturing a wide range of insects in the air or on the ground. They capture most of their prey in flight, sometimes by hovering, but will also pick prey by alighting on the ground. The winter diet appears to be almost entirely made up of insects but they take small birds, mammals and amphibians to feed their young in their breeding range. The rains in Africa produce swarms of termites, locusts, ants and beetles that provide ample food. Their migration over the Arabian Sea coincides with the timing of the migration of dragonflies (Pantala flavescens) and these are thought to provide food during the most arduous part of their migration route.

 

Source : Wikipedia