Oriental Bird Photographs - THE AMUR FALCON (One pic per day) Series : Birds Picture No. 2
THE AMUR FALCON
Scientific Name : Falco Amurensis
The Amur Falcon (Falco Amurensis) is a small raptor of the falcon family.
Its length is 275–290 mm (10.8–11.4 in)
It breeds in south-eastern Siberia as well as The northern region of China before migrating in large flocks across India and then over the Arabian Sea to winter in Southern Africa. Males are dark grey with reddish brown thighs and undertail coverts; reddish orange eye-ring, cere, as well as feet. Females are duller above, with darkish scaly imprints on white underparts, an orange eye ring, cere, and legs. Just a pale wash of rufous is visible on their thighs and undertail coverts.
Juveniles can be confused merely with those of the red-footed falcon, but lack the buffy underwing coverts.
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, at times furthermore east over Thailand and Cambodia and then over the Arabian Sea, sometimes in passage on the Maldives and other islands to reach southern Africa. Vagrants have been reported as far west as in Italy, Sweden, St. Helena and the United Kingdom.
The Amur falcon feeds mainly later in the evening or simply early in the morning grabbing an array of insects in the air or even on the ground. The winter eating habits appears to be almost entirely made up of insects however 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 and these are generally thought to provide food during the most daunting portion of their migration route.
Gear Used : Nikon D5300
Lens : Nikkor 70-300mm & Tamron 150-600mm
Tripod : Benro T600EX
Filter Neutral Density
Location : Sikkim - Nagaland Border
yours ever,
aCeVeNtUrA2
(my feathered friends & me)
