female Amur Falcon near Beijing
The Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) is a small-sized bird of prey breeding in northern China and southeastern Siberia. During the winter months, however, the birds migrate all the way to southern Africa. The Amur Falcon exhibits a characteristic sexual dimorphism evident in the plumage (see photographs), but also in the larger size of the females. The birds feed mainly on insects caught in the air or on the ground. Amphibians, small birds, and other small vertebrates contribute somewhat to their diet. They favour open woodlands or river valleys as their habitats. I have photographed these pretty little raptors on a birding trip along a river near Beizhuangzhen, north of Beijing, in September 2015 – shortly before they would leave for their arduous journey to Africa.
Matt Travels 
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