Amur Falcon
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| iAmur Falcon | ||||||||||||||
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 Amur Falcon female hovering over a farm field.
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| Falco amurensis Radde, 1863 |
The Amur Falcon Falco amurensis is a small raptor of the falcon family. It breeds in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China, wintering in Southern Africa.
[edit] Identification
Males are characteristically dark sooty brown, and may offer confusion with melanistic Gabar Goshawk, but the chestnut on the vent should prevent confusion here. Also there may be some superficial resemblance to Sooty Falcon and Grey Kestrel, but those two species both have yellow feet and cere. Separating male Amur and Red-footed is best done by the white underwing coverts on Amur, whereas the underwing of Red-footed Falcon is uniformly grey.
Females may offer a bit more confusion witha wider range of falcons as it has the falcon head pattern. The grey on the top of the head should quickly rule out confusion with Western Red-footed Falcon. The female has barring on the lower belly. Red cere and feet rule out all other falcons.
For juveniles, red feet should restrict ID too the Amur and Red-footed group, and the darker crown and lack of buff all the way up the belly rules out Western Red-footed Falcon. Females and juveniles lack the buff underwing coverts of Red-footed Falcon.
[edit] Diet
This bird's diet mainly consists of insects, such as termites.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Falco amurensis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
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