The Amur falcon is famous for making one of the longest migrations among birds of prey, travelling between southern Africa and breeding grounds in northeastern Asia.
The species breeds in southeastern Siberia and northern China, then migrates south through India toward southern Africa. Its route crosses the Arabian Sea, where huge numbers gather along the Indian coast before continuing toward Africa.
The total annual journey can exceed 20,000 kilometres when both directions are counted. The falcons feed heavily on insects, especially during migration, allowing them to exploit seasonal bursts of food across several continents.
The Amur falcon is sometimes confused with the red-footed falcon, another insect-eating migrant. They are separate species, and the Amur falcon’s ocean crossing is a particularly notable feature of its migration.