White-rumped falcon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-rumped falcon |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Neohierax
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| Species: |
insignis
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| Synonyms | |
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Polihierax insignis |
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The white-rumped falcon (Neohierax insignis) is a cool bird of prey. It lives in a part of Asia called Indochina. This bird is part of the Falconidae family, which includes all falcons. It's special because it's the only bird in its own group, called Neohierax.
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About the White-Rumped Falcon's Name
Birds and animals get scientific names so everyone knows exactly which creature is being talked about. The white-rumped falcon got its first official description in 1872. This was done by a person named Arthur Hay, who was also known as Viscount Walden.
Later, in 1922, a scientist named Harry Kirke Swann suggested that this bird should have its own special group. He named this group Neohierax. For a long time, people debated if it should stay with other falcons or be in its own group.
Scientists have studied the white-rumped falcon's body features and its DNA. They found that it is more closely related to the larger Falco falcons. It is not as closely related to the pygmy falcon or the tiny Microhierax falconets.
This bird has a few other names too. People sometimes call it the white-rumped pygmy falcon or the Burmese pigmy falcon.
What Does the White-Rumped Falcon Look Like?
The white-rumped falcon has a white belly and a white patch on its back, near its tail. This white patch is why it's called "white-rumped." Its chest has small black marks. The top of its wings are dark grey.
Male and female white-rumped falcons look a little different. This is called sexual dimorphism. The female has a reddish-brown color on her upper back and behind her head. The male, however, has grey in these areas. The tail is black with white stripes.
Its tail is rounded, and the feathers on the outside are a bit shorter. Its wings are pointed, just like other falcons. This shape helps them fly fast.
The legs and feet of this bird are yellow. The skin around its eyes and the base of its beak are also yellow. The tip of its beak is grey.
These falcons are about 23–28 cm (9.1–11.0 in) long. That's about the length of a ruler. They weigh between 84–112 g (3–4 oz), which is about the same as a small apple. Their wings can spread 42–49 centimetres (16+1⁄2–19+1⁄4 in) wide.
It looks a bit like the African pygmy falcon. But the white-rumped falcon is bigger and has a longer tail.
Where the White-Rumped Falcon Lives
You can find the white-rumped falcon in countries like Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. These countries are all in Southeast Asia.
They like to live in dry forests and open, grassy areas called dry savanna. These places are warm and often have scattered trees.
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) says this bird is "near-threatened." This means it could become endangered in the future. Their homes are being lost because of logging (cutting down trees) and forest fires. Sometimes, they might also be hunted.
White-Rumped Falcon Behavior
What White-Rumped Falcons Eat
White-rumped falcons mainly eat lizards and insects. They find their food on the ground or in trees. Unlike some other small falcons, they don't usually catch insects while flying in the air.
Reproduction and Nesting
Scientists haven't studied this bird's breeding habits much in the wild. We know they build their nests in holes inside trees.
The female bird sits on the eggs during the day to keep them warm. She usually lays two white eggs. Each egg is about 35 mm (1.4 in) long.
One pair of falcons was seen nesting in a hole made by a woodpecker. Both the male and female would sleep there overnight.
