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 