Amur Falcon

This species is defined as a Review Species. Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page.

Scientific Name: Falco amurensis
Malay Name: Rajawali Kaki Merah Timur
Chinese Name: 红脚隼

Range:
Found from eastern Siberia, northern Korea to north-eastern China and winters to sub-Saharan Africa, Nepal, India, Indochina and the Thai-Malay Peninsula

Taxonomy:
Monotypic.

Size: 28-31 cm

Identification:
Male resembles adult Peregrine Falcon but is smaller and has diagnostic red eyering, cere and feet, pale grey underparts and rufous-chestnut vent. Female resembles male but has dark streaked underparts, barred uppertail-coverts and buffy-white vent. Juvenile resembles female but has pale yellow eyering and cere.

Similar looking species: Eurasian Hobby, Peregrine Falcon

Habitat: Reclaimed land and open habitats near the coast.

Behaviour/Ecology: Often hunts and catches insects on the wing. Sometimes hovers while hunting.

Local Status: Very rare vagrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2021)

Featured articles:

Past accepted records in our database:

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Amur Falcon at Punggol Promenade. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Amur Falcon at Tanah Merah Coast Road. Photo credit: Adrian Silas Tay
Female Amur Falcon at Seletar Dam. Photo credit: Yip Peng Sun
Amur Falcon at Punggol Promenade. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Female Amur Falcon at Changi Reclaimed Land. Photo credit: Con Foley
External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Amur Falcon)
References:
BirdLife International. (2021). Falco amurensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22696437A205646027.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.