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Source- This post on Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) is based on the article “Ahead of Amur falcon’s arrival, Manipur district bans their hunting” published in Indian Express on 20th September 2024.
Why in News?
The district administration of Manipur’s Tamenglong district has announced an immediate ban on hunting, catching, killing, and selling of the Amur falcon. The ban is part of the efforts to protect the species as they arrive in the district.
About Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis)
| Aspects | Description |
| About | 1. The Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) is a small migratory bird of prey belonging to the family Falconidae. It is known for its remarkable long-distance migration. 2. The species is named after the Amur River, which runs through its breeding grounds in the Far East. |
| Where are they found? | 1. It breeds in southeastern Siberia, northern China, and Mongolia, and winters in southern Africa. 2. In India, Amur Falcons are primarily found during their migration in the northeastern states, especially in Nagaland, Manipur, and parts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. (Locally, the bird is known as ‘Kahuaipuina.’) 3. The Doyang Reservoir in Nagaland is particularly famous as a significant roosting site for tens of thousands of Amur Falcons during their annual migration. |
| Physical Characterstics | 1. Amur Falcons are relatively small falcons, with males and females differing slightly in appearance. 2. Males have slate-gray plumage with reddish-brown thighs and undertail coverts, and reddish-orange feet. 3. The females are larger and have a more mottled, brownish-gray appearance with streaked underparts, making them more camouflaged. 4. Both sexes have distinct black eye masks and yellow ceres (the soft tissue at the base of their beaks). |
| Migration | 1. After the breeding season, these birds undertake a remarkable migration of approximately 22,000 kilometers to southern Africa. 2. Their route includes an incredible non-stop flight over the Arabian Sea, where they travel more than 3,000 kilometers without resting. 3. This migration is one of the longest recorded for any raptor species. |
| Habitat and Diet | 1. During the breeding season in their native regions of Asia, Amur Falcons prefer open grasslands, agricultural fields, and forest edges. 2. They are often seen perching on power lines or trees, hunting insects. 3. Their diet primarily consists of insects, particularly locusts and termites, which they catch in flight. 4. They are known to take advantage of locust swarms, providing natural pest control. |
| Threat | 1) Over harvesting from trapping 2) Habitat loss from grassland degradation |
| Conservation | The Amur Falcon is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. |
UPSC Syllabus: Species in news
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