AMUR FALCONS

About: 

• Scientific name: Falco amurensis.
  
  
• They are small raptors of the falcon family. Raptors are birds that hunt invertebrates and vertebrates including other birds.
  
  
• Their diet consists mainly of insects, such as termites. They have red feet.
  
  
• Distribution: They breed in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China, wintering in Southern Africa.
  
  
• Migration Journey: They have one of the longest migration routes, flying almost 22,000 km up and down their breeding and wintering grounds.
  • They start their journey from South – eastern Siberia and northern China.
    
    
  • Then en-route, in the month of October to November, a large number of Amur falcons arrive in the northeast India, especially near the Doyang reservoir in Wokha district of Nagaland in Nagaland for roosting (sleeping/resting).
    • On their return flight they fly over Bangladesh and Myanmar after entering India but skip Nagaland.
      
      
    
    
    
  • And then they travel to Africa which is their final destination. In Africa they go to Somalia, Kenya and South Africa.
    
    
  
  
  
• IUCN status: Least Concern.
  
  
• Protection:
  • They are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
    
    
  • The Nagaland government hosted the first Amur Falcon Conservation Week from November 8 to 10.