Collared falconet

Collared falconet
File:Microhierax caerulescens.jpg
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Falconiformes
Family:	Falconidae
Genus:	Microhierax
Species:	M. caerulescens
Binomial name
Microhierax caerulescens (Linnaeus, 1758)
File:Microhierax caerulescens distribution map.svg

File:Microhierax caerulescens2.jpg

The collared falconet (Microhierax caerulescens) is a species of bird of prey in the Falconidae family.

It is found in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, ranging across Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Its natural habitat is temperate forests, often on the edges of broadleaf forest.

It is 18cm long. Rapid wingbeats are interspersed with long glides. When perched, "rather shrikelike."

Description

It is a very Small falcon, very shrike-like in shape, mainly pied and having bold white supercilia and collar, with relatively heavy double-toothed bill. It has shortish wings, medium-length tail, strong half-feathered legs, and powerful feet. It perches conspicuously on top or edge of tree or bush, often on dead twig, frequently bobbing head and slowly moving tail up and down; wing-tips less than half down tail. Sexes are similar.

Distribution

Mainland southeast Asia: Himalayan foothills of north India (northern Uttar Pradesh northwest to Kumaun, and Sikkim, Bengal, mainly northern Assam) and of Nepal and Bhutan, and from Burma (central and east, south to Tenasserim), Thailand (northwest and west, but not peninsular, also in strip east of central plains), Laos (central and south), Cambodia (especially north), and Vietnam.

Habitat

Open deciduous forest, clearings and edges in evergreen forest, abandoned hill cultivation with some trees; often near water. Mostly 200–800 m, fairly regularly to 1,700 m

External links

• illustration description