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Amur Falcon

The Amur Falcon, a pint-sized raptor no larger than a pigeon, is rewriting the rules of avian endurance.

This migratory marvel travels from breeding grounds in northern Asia to wintering sites in southern Africa, covering up to 22,000 km one way.

What stuns scientists?

It can clock up to 1,000 km in a single day during peak migration phases, especially over challenging terrains and open seas.

The Epic Transcontinental Trek

Each year, Amur Falcons embark on one of the longest raptor migrations known.

Starting from eastern Siberia, Mongolia, and northern China, they flock to northeastern India, particularly Nagaland and Manipur, for a crucial stopover.

Here, they rest and refuel before tackling the daunting 3,500 km non-stop flight across the Arabian Sea to East Africa.

Weighing just 150 grams with a wingspan of 60-70 cm, these birds defy their size.

Satellite tracking shows they maintain average speeds of 230-300 km per day overall, but ramp up to 1,000 km during intense legs, like ocean crossings.

This pace allows them to complete the journey in about two months, navigating weather, predators, and vast distances with remarkable precision.

Recent Tracking Data Surprises Researchers

In November 2025, scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India tagged three Amur Falcons in Manipur: Apapang (male), Ahu (female), and Alang (juvenile female).

Fitted with lightweight 3.5g satellite transmitters, these birds have already provided jaw-dropping insights.

Apapang, released on November 11, zoomed 1,500 km to Baliguda in Odisha’s Kandhamal district by November 13, averaging over 750 km per day.

His route snaked through Balasore, Satkosia, and Phulbani, showcasing unexpected detours that puzzled experts.

Meanwhile, the trio is now crossing central India toward the Arabian Sea, en route to Africa.

Earlier in 2025, another tagged falcon clocked a 40,000 km round trip from southern Africa back to Odisha, visiting Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary and Dhenkanal forests.

In May, a bird named Chiuluan 2 flew 6,000 km from Odisha to China in just 18 days.

These feats highlight the falcons’ adaptability, but also raise questions about how climate change might disrupt their paths.

Fueling Strategy: Billions Of Termites Power The Flight

How do these tiny birds sustain such grueling flights?

The secret lies in India’s monsoon-triggered termite swarms.

During their two-week stopover in Nagaland, a million falcons devour an estimated two billion termites, primarily Odontotermes feae and Odontotermes horni species.

This high-protein, high-fat feast doubles their body weight, providing the energy for the 3,500 km Arabian Sea crossing, which can last 3-4 days non-stop.

A 2024 study emphasizes this synchronization: termite emergences align perfectly with falcon arrivals, but shifts due to erratic weather could jeopardize the migration.

Observations from regurgitated pellets and field sightings confirm termites make up over 90% of their diet during this phase, turning the skies into a feeding frenzy.

Conservation Wins And Future Challenges

India’s role in this migration is pivotal, and conservation efforts have turned the tide, and the once hunted en masse in Nagaland.

Up to 140,000 birds are killed annually.

Community-led initiatives since 2013 have banned hunting, transforming roosting sites into protected havens.

Today, festivals celebrate their arrival, boosting eco-tourism.

However, habitat loss, pesticides, and climate shifts pose threats, and ongoing studies using GIS and machine learning models to predict habitat changes, urging landscape-level protection.

The Amur Falcon’s story is a testament to nature’s ingenuity, reminding us of the delicate balance sustaining such wonders.

As tracking technology evolves, expect more revelations from these airborne athletes.