Amur Falcon

The male of this small falcon is sooty gray with rufous-orange thighs and vent. The females are duller gray above, and their white underparts are well marked with dark chevrons. The combination of reddish-orange eyering, cere, and feet distinguishes them from all other falcons. These champion migrants breed in eastern Siberia and winter in southern Africa, often congregating in huge roosts on passage through India. They feed mainly on insects that they either catch on the wing or pick from the ground.

In Sri Lanka, the Amur Falcon can be found primarily during its migration, often seen in open areas like grasslands and open forests, with sightings reported across the country, particularly near the coast, as they fly over the island on their journey between their breeding grounds in East Asia and their wintering grounds in southern Africa; however, specific locations like the Kirala Kele Sanctuary in Matara have been noted as potential stopover points for this species.

In Sri Lanka, the Amur Falcon primarily feeds on insects, particularly large swarms of termites, as this is a very rare migratory visitor to the island and its diet largely consists of airborne insects during its migration, especially when passing through areas with heavy insect populations like those produced by African rains.