Philippine falconet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Philippine falconet
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Falconiformes
Family:	Falconidae
Genus:	Microhierax
Species:	M. erythrogenys
Binomial name
Microhierax erythrogenys (Vigors, 1831)
Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist.

Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".

The Philippine falconet is a super small bird of prey. It's part of the Falconidae family, which includes falcons and kestrels. This tiny bird lives only in the lowland forests of the Philippines.

You can often spot them near the edges of forests. They love to hunt flying insects there. Philippine falconets build their nests inside old woodpecker holes in dead trees. Even though their numbers are going down because their homes are disappearing, they are still considered "Least Concern" globally. This means they are not in immediate danger of extinction.

What Does the Philippine Falconet Look Like?

The Philippine falconet is a very small bird. It is only about 15 to 18 centimeters (6-7 inches) long. Its wings can spread out about 32 to 37 centimeters (12-14 inches). This bird weighs between 37 and 52 grams, which is about as much as a few strawberries!

These falconets have black and white feathers. Their top parts, from head to tail, are all black. Their faces and chests are white. Their bellies have a light, buffy color. The feathers under their wings are black.

Female falconets have all-black feathers under their wings. Male falconets have white spots on the inner part of their flight feathers. Females are also a bit bigger than males, sometimes up to 20% larger. Falconets living on southern islands are usually a little bigger than those on northern islands.

Scientists have also noticed that birds from different islands can look slightly different. Their tails, beaks, and wings can vary. This shows how unique these birds are to their specific island homes.

How Scientists Classify the Philippine Falconet

The Philippine falconet belongs to a small group of birds of prey. This group is called the Microhierax genus. All birds in this group are found in Southeast Asia. They are usually smaller than other birds in the Falconidae family.

There are five types of Microhierax falconets alive today. Scientists have found that these five types are very closely related. They form their own special group. This group is also related to the larger Falco group, which includes bigger falcons.

The name Microhierax comes from ancient Greek words. It means "tiny hawk." The Philippine falconet, Microhierax erythrogenys, was placed into this group in 1874. This was done by a scientist named Sharpe Bowdler.

Philippine Falconet Subspecies

Scientists have found two main types, or subspecies, of the Philippine falconet.

• The Microhierax erythrogenys erythrogenys subspecies lives on the northern islands. These include Luzon, Mindoro, Negros, Catanduanes, and Bohol Islands.
• The Microhierax erythrogenys meridionalis subspecies was found more recently. It lives on the southern islands. These include Calicoan, Samar, Leyte, Cebu, and Mindanao Islands.

These two subspecies look a bit different from each other. This is because they live on different islands. The islands are separated by water, which acts like a barrier. The southern birds are generally larger. They also have clear differences in their tails, beaks, and wings.

Scientists are still trying to understand why these differences exist. More studies are needed to learn about these unique birds.

Where the Philippine Falconet Lives

The Philippine falconet lives only in the Philippine Archipelago. You can find it on many different islands there. These include Luzon, Mindoro, Negros, Catanduanes, Bohol, Calicoan, Samar, Leyte, Cebu, Mindanao, and Panay.

These birds prefer to live in moist lowland forests. They often live in pairs or small family groups. You might hear them singing when they are around. When they hunt, they sit on tall branches or the tops of old, dead trees. From there, they watch for their prey.

Philippine Falconet Behaviors

Vocalization

The Philippine falconet makes a quick, high-pitched sound. It sounds like "kek-kek-kek-kek." They also make a continuous, squeaky sound like "pew-pew-pew-pew." They usually make about two notes per second.

Diet and Hunting

Like other falconets, the Philippine falconet does not hover in the air or soar high up. Instead, they hunt from a perch on a tree. They wait for flying prey to pass by. Then, they chase after it with fast and powerful flights.

Once they catch their prey in their bill, they fly back to the same perch. There, they eat their meal. These birds mainly eat insects. They also sometimes eat smaller birds. What they eat can change depending on what food is available.

One study found that dragonflyes make up almost 70% of their diet! They also eat other insects like bees, butterflies, grasshoppers, and beetles.

Young Philippine falconets learn to hunt by watching. They also join in hunting with older, experienced birds. Sometimes, you can see up to six adult and young falconets sharing one meal that was caught earlier.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Philippine falconets usually breed in March and April. However, sometimes nests can be found as early as November. Scientists are still learning exactly when breeding happens. They think it might be different depending on the island environment.

These falconets build their nests inside holes. They like old holes made by woodpeckers or barbets. These holes are usually 6 to 10 meters (20-33 feet) above the ground. They prefer dead trees at the edge of forests.

A female falconet usually lays 3 to 4 eggs. Both the male and female adults work together to protect their nest very strongly. The family usually stays together until the next breeding season begins.