First observation of the Amur falcon ( <i>Falco amurensis</i> ) in Algeria

Abstract We report the first record of the Amur falcon ( Falco amurensis ) in Algeria and throughout North Africa, based on a single individual observed and photographed on 15 July 2025 and again on 3 August 2025 in the Illizi region, southeastern Algeria. The bird was documented using a Nikon Coolpix P900 camera in an open Saharan habitat characterised by sparse desert vegetation. This observation represents a westward extension of the known distribution of the species into the central Sahara. It constitutes a notable case of vagrancy well beyond its typical migratory corridor between eastern Asia and southern Africa. This finding underscores the species’ potential for long-distance dispersal and highlights the importance of continued monitoring for rare migratory birds in arid zones of Algeria or throughout North Africa.