Fun Amur Falcon Facts For Kids

Iram Ashfaq
Jan 04, 2023 By Iram Ashfaq
Originally Published on Aug 06, 2021
Edited by Katherine Cook
Amazing Amur falcon facts for you and your family.
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 6.4 Min

The majestic Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) feeds primarily on rodents and rabbits but will also take advantage of any opportunity for small birds if it presents itself. The largest animals these magnificent Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) birds of the world hunt include hares, squirrels, and wild boar piglets. These birds are a potentially endangered species as their habitat has been threatened by developments and human encroachment. They have also come under attack from commercial trapping operations. Amur falcons are a rare species of falcon and the only falcon that lives in eastern Europe. Accidentally introduced to North America, the red-footed falcon has since begun breeding here as well. Amur falcons live on high cliffs near water sources where they can find prey such as small mammals like mice and rats.

Although the numbers of Amur falcons remain low compared to other birds of the world, a lot of conservationists' work is currently focused on protecting these beautiful birds from extinction by working on the conservation of Amur falcon. Amur falcons are large, medium-sized falcons, one of the largest members of its family. It has broad wings which allow for fast flight as well as excellent manoeuvrability while hunting small mammals like squirrels or rabbits on the ground. They are also known for their ability to hunt bats from under bridges by waiting at night until they fly close enough before taking off after them. These nocturnal hunters have amazing vision that allows them to take incredible long-distance dives without ever missing their prey so they can swoop down and capture dinner with their quick precision talons. Known for their deep, piercing eyes and long tails, the Amur falcon is one of the most captivating birds of prey. Found throughout Asia with a population exceeding 4 million individuals worldwide, these birds are often sought after by birdwatchers due to their beauty as well as rarity status.

For more relatable content, check out these falcon facts and prairie falcon facts for kids.

Amur Falcon Interesting Facts

What type of animal is an Amur falcon?

The Amur falcon is a very striking bird with brown, white, and black feathers. They are found in southern Africa, the Arabian Sea, India, eastern Siberia, Nagaland, and eastern Africa.

What class of animal does an Amur falcon belong to?

The Amur falcon is a creature of the skies, soaring through even the most treacherous conditions. This bird belongs to class Aves and has many natural predators in its habitat including eagles and other hawks.

How many Amur falcons are there in the world?

Scientists have not been able to pinpoint an exact number for how many of the Amur falcon species can be found throughout the world today. Over time, it has become clear that this bird's population is rapidly decreasing without any sign of slowing down or stopping anytime soon. We really need to work towards their conservation.

Where does an Amur falcon live?

The Amur falcon habitat mostly includes forests, meadows, and trees.

What is an Amur falcon's habitat?

The Amur falcon is a bird that lives in a forested area with low levels of tree cover typically found at higher latitudes such as those around southern Africa, the Arabian Sea, India, Nagaland, and eastern Siberia.

Who do Amur falcons live with?

The red-footed falcon group size ranges from a few pairs with offspring down to only one individual. Amur falcons are migratory birds and they typically fly south from the Arabian Sea for the winter, but can occasionally be found across all seasons in certain parts of Africa, Nagaland, India, and North America.  

How long does an Amur falcon live?

Among all other wild birds of the world, the Amur falcon lives up to 30 years. Red-footed falcons thrive in cold climates and are common sights across Africa, India, and Nagaland..

How do they reproduce?

Amur falcons are also known for their ability to reproduce two to six eggs per breeding season on their breeding grounds. When these animals breed on an island or group of trees, it is possible for one Amur falcon to take control over many other breeding grounds.

What is their conservation status?

Although the Amur falcon's IUCN status says its Least Concern, these birds are threatened and could become endangered anytime soon.

Amur Falcon Fun Facts

What do Amur falcons look like?

The body of the red-footed falcons species has brown feathers with white underparts. This falcon species has long pointed beaks that are gray or black depending on their sex. Females will typically have darker colors while males sport more light hues, like grays and whites from head to tail end!

How cute are they?

This falcon species has distinct features like their long wings and pointy beak which make them very cute to watch.

How do they communicate?

This Amur falcon species is renowned for its ability to make an array of different noises for communication. These include harsh cries as well as high-pitched trills that can be heard from up to 1 mi (1.6 km) away during a hunt or when nestlings demand food.

How big is an Amur falcon?

These birds grow up to 23-27 in (60-70 cm) in length, almost half the size of a Peregrine falcon. The Amur falcon’s small size is what makes it so fast. They don’t weigh much and this allows for their great flying speed.

How fast can an Amur falcon fly?

The Amur falcon speed is top-notch. They are masters of the sky and can fly at speeds over 100 mph (160 kph). This comes handy during the migration.

How much does an Amur falcon weigh?

This birds species weighs around 0.3-0.4 lb (180-200 g) on average. These birds live among large forests where they like to nest near water sources such as ponds or lakes because those areas provide plenty of good food for them such as fish, frogs, and aquatic insects.

What are the male and female names of the species?

Both female and male birds of this species go by the name Amur falcons. Amur falcons are a type of bird where both male and female share striking similarities in coloring, making them hard to distinguish from each other at times.

What would you call a baby Amur falcon?

A baby Amur falcon has no scientific name and is commonly known as a baby falcon. Amur falcons are known for their adorable babies that will make you fall in love. These birds spend the majority of their lives flying high up and hunting.

What do they eat?

The Amur species are amazing birds that can do things we wish we could. Their favorite food is insects, small birds, squirrels, and they'll even eat bats. Owls and hawks are major threats for these cute birds. They often get eaten by the former.

Are they dangerous?

Amur falcons are incredible to watch, however they can become dangerous if provoked.

Would they make a good pet?

Amur falcons are intelligent and playful birds that make great pets. They enjoy spending time with their owners, but they also need plenty of room to fly around.

Did you know...

Amur falcons are known as Falco amurensi in Nagaland.

The Amur falcon route includes migration to Siberia and China in the summer and southward migration to India, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Australia in the winters. The Amur falcon migration distance is around 3000 mi (4800 km)!

Unlike most bird species, Amur falcons do not roost in nests and form a breeding colony. Instead, they roost high in trees or on the ground for breeding each year.

What are the different types of falcons?

The different types of falcons include the common kestrel falcon, peregrine falcons, red-necked falcons, saker falcons, the American kestrel falcon and the pigeon hawk.

Why do Amur falcons migrate?

Amur falcon migration has been understudied for many years as these birds live at the far reaches. This migration happens because of a lack in food. They are unable to find prey in their wintering and breeding grounds, and so migration helps them to find more plentiful hunting opportunities. The Amur falcon migration route can extend up to 3000 mi (4800 km).

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our sea eagle facts and white gyrfalcon facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Amur falcon coloring pages.

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Written by Iram Ashfaq

Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Master of Public Health

Iram Ashfaq picture

Iram AshfaqBachelor of Dental Surgery, Master of Public Health

With a Bachelor's degree in Dental Surgery from Shaney Institute of Health Sciences and a Master's degree in Public Health from Imperial College London, Iram is a highly qualified and accomplished writer from Srinagar, India. Over the course of a year, she has acquired multiple writing certifications, focusing on health sciences and research studies. Prior to joining Kidadl, Iram gained valuable experience working as a content writer for Indian firms and interning at a New York-based company. Her expertise and passion for writing shine through in her ability to create compelling content across a variety of topics.

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