Epic non-stop flight of Amur Falcon
An amazing feat of bird endurance has been recorded. Researchers tracked an Amur falcon using a satellite tag. The falcon completed a non-stop, 3,800-kilometre flight. The journey was across the Arabian Sea from Somalia to India. The journey, lasting 93 hours, highlights the incredible migratory capabilities of this small raptor species and provides valuable data for ongoing conservation efforts. The falcon, nick named as Chiuluan2, is part of a collaborative study tracking one of the longest migratory routes in the animal kingdom.
Studying the Migration Route
Amur falcons (Falco amurensis) undertake one of the most demanding annual migrations known, covering nearly 20,000 kilometres. They travel between their breeding grounds in Siberia, northern China, and Mongolia, and their wintering areas primarily located in southern Africa. Chiuluan2, named after a village in Manipur's Tamenglong district, began its return journey north from its wintering site in Botswana in early April 2025. Its first major documented stopover was in Somalia on the Horn of Africa.
Transoceanic Flight
From Somalia, Chiuluan2 embarked on the most perilous leg of its journey – a continuous flight over the vast expanse of the Arabian Sea towards India. The falcon relied only on its instincts to navigate. It used cues like the sun, stars, wind patterns, and possibly the Earth's magnetic field. Remarkably, the bird kept flying for 93 straight hours without any rest. Real-time tracking data from its satellite tag showed its journey. It maintained an average speed of about 41 km/h during this difficult flight over the ocean. The route and the flight show the extraordinary physical resilience and navigational prowess of the species.
It’s Significance for Research
Chiuluan2's journey is being monitored as part of a collaborative research initiative involving the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the Manipur Forest Department, and local communities in Northeast India. Launched in 2018, this satellite-tagging program aims to map the falcons' migration routes in detail, identify critical stopover sites, and understand the challenges they face during their long journeys.
Northeast India, particularly the states of Manipur and Nagaland, serves as a vital staging ground for thousands of Amur falcons during their migration each autumn. The birds pause here to rest and feed, primarily on insects like termites, replenishing energy reserves before continuing their long flight southwards (and similarly on their return north). Data gathered from tagged birds like Chiuluan2 provides crucial insights into their behaviour and habitat use, informing local and international conservation strategies aimed at protecting these birds and their essential stopover locations.
Amur falcon Chiuluan2 flew 3,800 kilometres non-stop. The flight was from Somalia to India and this shows the amazing strength of these birds. It also shows their great skill in finding their way. The journey documented through satellite tracking, yielded vital scientific data. It highlights the importance of collaborative research and conservation efforts across international boundaries to protect these raptors and know about the critical habitats they depend upon throughout their arduous annual journey.
