The Amur falcon was long considered a subspecies or morph of the red-footed falcon, but it is nowadays considered distinct.
Nonetheless, it is the red-footed falcon's closest relative; their relationship to other falcons is more enigmatic.
They appear morphologically somewhat intermediate between kestrels and hobbies and DNA sequence data has been unable to further resolve this question, mainly due to lack of comprehensive sampling.

The genus name Falco is Late Latin and derives from falx, falcis, a sickle, referencing the claws of the bird.
The species name  amurensis  is from Amurland in south-eastern Siberia.
The Amur falcon was long considered a subspecies or morph of the red-footed falcon, but it is nowadays considered distinct. Nonetheless, it is the red-footed falcon's closest relative; their relationship to other falcons is more enigmatic. They appear morphologically somewhat intermediate between kestrels and hobbies and DNA sequence data has been unable to further resolve this question, mainly due to lack of comprehensive sampling.
The genus name Falco is Late Latin and derives from falx, falcis, a sickle, referencing the claws of the bird. The species name  amurensis  is from Amurland in south-eastern Siberia.
Amur falcon