ABSTRACT
The Amurfalcon (Flaco amurensis) is a small raptor breeding in Eastern Asia and wintering in Southern Africa. The 14,000 km journey among these two ranges includes a long stopover in NE India, where probably the whole world population concentrates for several weeks in November. After this fattening period. Amur falcons embark into the crossing of the Indian Ocean, which is aided by tailwinds and involves at least two-three days flying no-stop. Amur falcons reach Southern Africa after travelling 1.5-3 months, and during winter congregate in large roosts. Spring migration begins in March and, after a significant stopover in Eastern Africa. Amur falcons again cross the Indian Ocean, once more with the aid of tailwinds. but using a slightly different route in comparison with the autumn one. Once in Asia, they reach their breeding grounds, avoiding the Himalaya crossing as they did in autumn. Such strategy, finely matched with resource availability and global wind patterns, makes the Amur falcon's journey one of the most remarkable ones of migratory organisms.
