Collared Falconet
Microhierax caerulescens
红腿小隼
Introduction
Small falcon in the family Falconidae. Inhabits the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia across Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Natural habitat is temperate forest, often on edges of broadleaf forest. Characterized by rapid wingbeats interspersed with long glides, and a shrike-like appearance when perched. Body length is 18 cm (7.1 in).
Description
A very small falcon with a shrike-like shape, predominantly pied plumage with bold white supercilia and collar. Features a relatively heavy double-toothed bill, shortish wings, a medium-length tail, strong half-feathered legs, and powerful feet. The species perches conspicuously on top or edges of trees and bushes, often on dead twigs, frequently bobbing its head and slowly moving its tail up and down. Wing-tips reach less than halfway down the tail. Sexes are similar in appearance.
Identification
Very small size (18 cm) and shrike-like profile are key identification features. The bold white supercilia and collar contrast with the pied plumage. The heavy double-toothed bill is distinctive. Perches conspicuously on exposed perches, frequently bobbing head and moving tail. Confusion with similar small raptors is unlikely due to unique combination of size, pied plumage, and perching behavior.
Distribution & Habitat
Inhabits mainland Southeast Asia including Himalayan foothills of northern India (northern Uttar Pradesh to Kumaun, Sikkim, Bengal, and northern Assam), Nepal, and Bhutan. Also found in Burma (central and eastern regions south to Tenasserim), Thailand (northwest and west, not peninsular), Laos (central and south), Cambodia (especially northern regions), and Vietnam. Prefers open deciduous forest, clearings, and edges of evergreen forest, as well as abandoned hill cultivation with some trees, often near water. Occurs at elevations mostly 200-800 m (660-2,620 ft), regularly to 1,700 m (5,600 ft).
Behavior & Ecology
Perches conspicuously on exposed perches such as tree tops, bush edges, and dead twigs. Frequently bobs head and slowly moves tail up and down. Flight consists of rapid wingbeats interspersed with long glides. Hunting behavior and diet details not provided in the source text.
Conservation
IUCN assessment, population trends, and threats are not provided in the source text.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Falconiformes
- Family
- Falconidae
- Genus
- Microhierax
- eBird Code
- colfal1
Subspecies (2)
-
Microhierax caerulescens burmanicus
Myanmar to southern Indochina
-
Microhierax caerulescens caerulescens
Himalayas of India and Nepal to Assam
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.