Falco amurensis
The Amur Falcon is a summer (October to May) visitor to South Africa, particularly the eastern half of the country, migrating in their thousands over enormous distances of over 11,000km to get here from their Asian (Siberia, Mongolia, China, Korea) breeding grounds – among the longest distances migrated by any raptors. They live in open country, preferring grasslands, open savannas and agricultural areas, and feed on a wide variety of larger insects and occasionally small birds, mammals and frogs. Adults measure around 30cm in length and weigh about 140g.
Amur Falcons are usually seen in large flocks sitting on telephone wires and fencelines and sleeping in colonies that may number into the tens of thousands in high trees, often exotics standing in towns and cities.
The IUCN considers the Amur Falcon to be of least concern, though they are hunted extensively while migrating.
DeWetsWild 
Maak mens hoop hulle dra nie kieme nie!! 🤔😀
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As ek Facebook so kyk dra ALLES kieme deesdae…
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Jy weet dan! 😁😁
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You and Joubert have lovely images of this handsome little raptor. Those long migrations never cease to astound me. So tragic they are hunted (and so needlessly too) while undertaking their arduous migrations.
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Just another example of humanity’s lousy lack of respect for the natural world; to think shooting something busy doing something so incredible counts as sport and a worthy pastime.
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It really does show us the unbelievable and awful disconnect that humanity generally, has with the natural world.
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So ‘n statige voel!!
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Hulle hou hulle maar so upstairs!
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Is julle almal gesond?
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Helemal, dankie Tina. En ek hoop van harte jy ook?
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Ja dankie… ons byt vas!
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It would be something to see a large flock of these at rest. I wonder how big they are. From the images, it’s hard to judge size. Great captures.
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Thanks John. They’re about a foot long from tip of the beak to tip of the tail, so not very large as raptors go.
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Why would anyone want to hunt this bird? At first glance of the opening photo, I thought it looked rather owlish. I can’t imagine seeing large flocks of them together. He looks like a handsome little guy.
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Sadly “sport shooting” for raptors is still a common pastime in some countries the Amur Falcon migrates across, Joanne.
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I just don’t see the ‘sport’ in shooting 😕
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Neither do I, Joanne. I hope at some point humans will become better people.
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An interesting variety of perches in today’s selection of photographs. Hats off to Joubert for capturing such a clear flying image!
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He’ll appreciate that so much, thank you Anne!
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What a beautiful bird!
Hope you and all your loved ones continue to stay safe and healthy.
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We’re doing fine, thanks Takami, and I hope you are too?
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When the moon’s in the sky like a big pizza pie, that’s amur-a. 🙂 I do love it.
janet
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Oh no, Janet; now I’ll have that worm in my ear all day! 😀
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🙂 Evil grin.
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A rather handsome bird, I think. You guys hanging in there OK? Joubert keeping up with all his school work?
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We’re doing wonderfully, thanks, Lois, including with the “home schooling”. How are you?
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Doing just fine. We won’t go into the politics, but things seem the same.
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Glad to know you’re doing OK under the circumstances, Lois.
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That’s a good looking bird. Good shots, D. 🙂
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Thank you very much, H.J.
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