In one of the most remarkable natural feats documented this year, three Amur falcons completed a record-breaking migration of approximately 5,000 km from India to Zimbabwe in just five to six days, stunning scientists, birders, and conservationists around the world.

The Tiny Yet Mighty Travellers

The Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) is a small raptor that breeds in south-eastern Siberia and northern China before undertaking an extraordinary annual migration to wintering grounds in southern and eastern Africa. This journey involves traversing multiple continents, oceans, and climatic zones — a true testament to endurance in the natural world.

A Migration Like No Other

In November 2025, three solar-powered satellite-tagged Amur falcons, named Apapang, Alang, and Ahu were tracked making an astonishing long-distance flight from India to southern Africa. The satellite tagging of the Amur falcons was carried out as part of a structured scientific effort involving the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Tamenglong Forest Division of Manipuat the Chiuluan roosting site in Tamenglong district on 11 November 2025.

They flew nearly 5,000 km nonstop, crossing the Indian subcontinent, the Arabian Sea, and East Africa en route to Zimbabwe.

The entire journey was completed in just five to six days, shedding new light on the species’ migratory endurance and navigation capabilities.

Scientists say this migration is among the longest nonstop flights recorded for a small raptor, challenging previous assumptions about how birds conserve energy and navigate across vast distances.

What This Means for Science

The use of satellite tags has provided rare insights into not only the path these birds take but also how they manage energy and survival during such grueling expeditions. Biologists studying the data observed that each falcon employed distinct strategies, indicating adaptability and variation within migratory behaviour.

Global Ecosystems and Conservation

The Amur falcon’s migration underlines the remarkable interconnectedness of global ecosystems. These birds link diverse habitats across Asia and Africa, making them important indicators of environmental health. Their journey highlights the need for international cooperation in conserving migratory flyways, which are vital not just for falcons but for countless other migratory species that depend on a chain of habitats across borders.

Community awareness and conservation efforts, especially at key stopover sites like northeastern India, have been crucial in protecting these raptors and celebrating their incredible annual passages.