Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Falco amurensis
Family: Falcons and Caracaras · Status: Vagrant · Size: 28–31 cm · Conservation: Least Concern
Breeds in eastern Siberia, northern Korea to northeastern China; winters to southern Africa.
Smaller, narrower-winged, and slimmer overall than Peregrine Falcon. Male is distinctive with pale grey upperparts, strikingly white underwing-coverts, rufous-chestnut vent, and diagnostic red eyering, cere and feet. Female and juvenile best distinguished from Eurasian Hobby by the pale, two-toned underwing with pronounced dark trailing edge. Female has dark streaked underparts, barred uppertail-coverts, buffy-white vent and grey upperparts. Juvenile has pale yellow eyering and cere, and shows a distinct pale neck-band and barred underwing, separating it from juvenile Eurasian Hobby, which lacks the pale collar (thus appearing darker-faced) and has a uniformly dark underwing.
Reclaimed land and open habitats near the coast; most likely on passage during raptor migration.
Hunts insects on the wing or from a perch; also hovers while hunting. Outside the breeding season often occurs in flocks.