Amur Falcon

Amur Falcon Falco amurensis is a small raptor which breeds in Siberia and China. It migrates through India and across the Arabian sea to Southern Africa. It was previously considered to be a subspecies of Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus and known as Eastern Red-footed Falcon. The migration routes are sometimes further east and include Thailand and peninsular Malaysia and further west passing through Eastern Europe.

This particular Amur Falcon, which we think is a juvenile female bird, should already be in Southern Africa. It should definitely not be in this location at this time and has probably become separated from its flock. It seemed reasonably tame staying in the same open area for at least an hour while we were able to watch and photograph it at short range.

A good place to see Red-footed and Amur Falcons in Southern Africa is the Kruger National Park in South Africa. Recent research has shown that a large number of Amur Falcons are being killed on migration in Arunachal Pradesh in north-eastern India.