>> GENERAL >>>>>
– medium-sized falcon, size roughly like Common Kestrel but longer wings
– breeding in Asia, vagrant in WP
– diurnal migrant, but regularly non-stop sea-crossing between India and Africa takes place
– migrates singly or in often large loose flocks, in WP sometimes mixed with Red-footed Falcon
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis, 1CY F
BIF2815, 25/08/2017, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– JUV and F with black and white pattern of remiges, more contrasting on whiter ground colour than Red-footed Falcon (browner barring on whitish ground colour) or Eurasian Hobby (brown barring on buffish ground colour)
– aged as JUV by heavily barred underwing and JUV tail feathers
– sexed as F by broad black barring rectrices
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis, 1CY F
BIF2813, 23/08/2017, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– upperside very similar to Red-footed Falcon
– JUV browner than F (slaty grey) with pale fringed wing coverts and back
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis, 1CY F
BIF2814, 23/08/2017, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– JUV F tail pattern also distinct from above
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis, 1CY M
BIF2816, 25/08/2017, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– very fine barring of the rectrices indicate JUV M (compare with BIF2814)
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis, 1CY M
BIF2817, 25/08/2017, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– same as BIF2816, on the underside JUV M tend to show finer barring of remiges as well as of rectrices
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis, F 2CY
BIF1587, 02/06/2014, Kherlen Gol, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– sexed as F by JUV tail pattern (note three moulted AD F-type inner tail feathers)
– body feathers still very similar to 1CY-birds
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis, F 2CY
BIF1582, 02/06/2014, Kherlen Gol, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– lower belly and flanks with typical AD F body feathers in contrast to JUV strong streaks on lower breast
– almost uniformly brownish upperwing-coverts in comparison to AD F (BIF1588)
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis, M 2CY
BIF1584, 02/06/2014, Kherlen Gol, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– readily sexed as 2CY M due to first grey body feathers and dark red at thighs
– underwing pattern and face still completely JUV
– worn tips of primaries typical for 2CY birds
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis, M 2CY
BIF1585, 19/06/2016, Kherlen Gol, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– more advanced 2CY M, AD-type head and breast, reddish undertail-coverts and thighs
– rectrices with typical thin black barrings of JUV M (compare to BIF1587)
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis, F AD
BIF1586, 22/05/2011, Sumber, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– typical adult female with finely marked underwing coverts (compare with BIF1587)
– obvious broad black trailing edge of remiges and rectrices (less distict in Eurasian Hobby
– buffish undertail-coverts and thighs
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis, F AD
BIF1555, 23/05/2011, Kherlen Gol, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– mostly whitish lesser underwing-coverts
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis, F AD
BIF1588, 23/05/2011, Kherlen Gol, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– mantle feathers slaty grey
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis, F AD
BIF1581, 02/06/2014, Kherlen Gol, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– white body feathers with black streaks on breast and arrowheads on belly
– finely barred underwing-coverts
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis, F AD
BIF1583, 23/05/2011, Kherlen Gol, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– fine barring of underwing-coverts, arrowhead-type body feathers and tail pattern suggest AD F
– light F with regular barring from primaries to secondaries (compare to BIF1581)
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis, F AD
BIF1580, 23/05/2011, Kherlen Gol, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– upperparts uniformly grey with darker markings and grey crown
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis, M AD
BIF1577, 01/06/2014, Buir Nuur, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– unmistakeable; white underwing coverts contrasting to black primaries/secondaries (Red-footed Falcon underwing coverts grey like the belly)
– darker grey head is contrasting to lighter grey breast and belly
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis, M AD
BIF1578, 01/06/2014, Kherlen Gol, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– from above very similar to Red-footed Falcon, beware of the light conditions and try to catch a view from the underparts (compare with BIF1567)
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis, M AD
BIF1579, 02/06/2014, Buir Nuur, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– in good light darker moustachial stripe and mask contrasting to paler cheek patch recognisable
– cere and base of bill, orbital skin and feet are orange
>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
– usually nonvocal during migration
>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>
Red-footed Falcon (v)
Eurasian Hobby (v)
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