A common nonbreeding palaearctic migrant that breeds in Siberia and Manchuria in North China and migrates to Southern Africa via India.
Mainly confined to the east and north east of South Africa, Botswana and most of Zimbabwe. They rarely overwinter in South Africa.
These falcons like open grassland, cultivation, grassy foothills and lightly wooded country where they feed on insects. Up to 5 000 birds can roost communally, especially in tall eucalyptus trees. They leave the roost before sunrise and return at dusk.
Mainly silent except at communal roost where they call in a high pitched kiwee – kiwee. Breeding, incubation and nestlings are extra limitral.
The tribal name is kavakavana and in Afrikaans die oostelike rooipootvalk.
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