



ERYTHROPUS AMURENSIS. 



White-winged Red-footed Kestrel. 



Falco vespertinus, Schrenck, Reis. Amurl. Vog. p. 230 (I860, nee Linn.). 



Erythropus vespertinus, Swinhoe, Ibis, 1861, pp. 253, 327 (nee Linn.).— Id. P. Z. S. 1862, p. 315. — Jerdon, B. of 



Ind. i. p. 40 (1862).— Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1863, p. 260.— Kirk, Ibis, 1864, p. 316— Hume, Rough Notes, 



i. p. 106 (1869).— Jerdon, Ibis, 1871, p. 243. 

 Falco vespertinus, var. amurensis, Radde, Sibir. Reise, ii. p. 102, Taf. 1. figs. 1-3 (1863). 

 Hypotriorchis concolor, Gurney, Ibis, 1866, p. 127. 



Falco amurensis, Homeyer, J. f. O. 1868, p. 251. — David & Oustalet, Ois. de la Chine, p. 34 (1877). 

 Erythropus amurensis, Gurney, Ibis, 1868, p. 41, pi. 2.— Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1870, pp. 436, 448, 1871, p. 340— Id. 



Ibis, 1873, p. 96.— Gurney in Anderss. B. Dam. L. p. 17 (1872). 

 Tinnunculus amurensis, Gray, Hand-1. B. i. p. 23 (1869). 

 Falco raddei, Finsch & Hartl. Vog. Ost-Afr. p. 74 (1870). 



Cerchneis amurensis, Sharpe, Brit.-Mus. Cat. B. i. p. 445 (1874).- — Id. ed. Layard, p. 66 (1874). 

 Erythropus raddei, Dybowski, J. f. O. 1874, p. 334. — Tacz. Bull. Soc. Zool. France, 1876, p. 126. 



The present species is closely allied to the Red-legged Hobby or Red-footed Falcon of Eastern and Southern 

 Europe {Erythropus vespertinus), and represents it in Western Siberia and China. Dr. von Schrenck duly 

 noticed some differences between the bird which he procured in Amoor Land and those of Europe, but did 

 not separate them specifically ; while Mr. Radde, who obtained specimens from Amoor Land and on the 

 Ussuri, only deemed it worth while to recognize the bird from these localities as a mere race. In my own 

 opinion the eastern bird is quite distinct from the European Red-footed Falcon (which is also an inhabitant 

 of Western Siberia, but gradually disappearing on the eastward side of Lake Baikal), and differs not only 

 in the white under wing-coverts, but also in the very different plumage of the female bird, which is not 

 unlike a young Hobby in appearance. 



In addition to the localities mentioned above, Dr. Dybowski has sent specimens from the Akscha, in 

 Daouria, and also from old Tsuruchaitui, on the Argun river. In China, according to Pere David, it is 

 not found in the south, but arrives in April in the plains of Northern China and Mongolia, flying in bands 

 which consist generally of the males and females in separate flocks. It is a very familiar bird, according 

 to the same observer, and takes up its residence in the large trees which are often in the neighbourhood of 

 dwelling-houses, or even in the midst of villages, often selecting for their homes the deserted nests of 

 Magpies or Crows. This Falcon is said by Pere David to be a bird of a pleasing and amiable temperament, 

 and very gentle and sociable in its ways, on which account it is not interfered with by the Chinese, all the 

 more because its food consists solely of insects and small reptiles (Phrynocephalus caudwohulus and Lacerta 

 argtis). It particularly affects the open country, and never establishes itself in the mountains or among 

 rocks; and it may be seen near all the villages in the Pekin plain, sailing from early morning till night-time 

 in the air, when it sails about quietly or cleaves the air with a graceful motion. In autumn these birds 

 unite once more in large troops and go off to the south-west, the young birds being the last to quit the 

 country. 



It occurs in India, where, Dr. Jerdon says, it is not common, but is generally spread throughout the 

 country ; and he has killed it himself in various places, but only in the rainy season. It is also numerous 

 in South-eastern Africa during the northern winter. 



Mr. Swinhoe gives an interesting account of this Falcon near Chefoo, where it breeds in the nests of 

 Magpies ; but he did not succeed in obtaining the eggs. He states also that the food consists not only of 

 insects, but also of small birds, and for the capture of the latter they are trained for hawking. 



The following description of the adult male bird is given by Mr. Sharpe in his ' Catalogue :' — "Above 

 leaden black, a little paler on the lower back and secondaries, the greater wing-coverts and primaries clearly 

 washed externally with silvery grey ; tail greyish black above, paler beneath ; under surface of body pale 

 grey; lower abdomen, thighs, vent, and under tail-coverts bright chestnut; under wing-coverts pure white; 

 cere and orbits orange; feet and tarsi dark orange, claws whitish; bill dark orange, black at tip; iris hazel. 

 Total length 9*5 inches, culmen 0*75, wing 9*0, tail 5*3, tarsus 1*15. 



