White-fronted falconet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids White-fronted falconet
Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)
CITES Appendix II (CITES)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Falconiformes
Family:	Falconidae
Genus:	Microhierax
Species:	M. latifrons
Binomial name
Microhierax latifrons Sharpe, 1879
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The white-fronted falconet (Microhierax latifrons), also known as the Bornean falconet, is a tiny bird of prey. It belongs to the falcon family, Falconidae. This small bird was first described by a British bird expert, Richard Bowdler Sharpe, in 1879.

You can only find the white-fronted falconet on the island of Borneo. It lives in parts of Sarawak, Sabah, and the very northeast of Kalimantan. This falcon is super small, only about 14–17 cm (5.5–6.7 in) long. It weighs just 35–65 g (1.2–2.3 oz), making it the smallest of all falconets. It has shiny bluish-black feathers on its back and a black mask around its eyes. Its belly is pale yellowish-brown, while its throat and chest are white. Males have a white forehead, but females have a reddish-brown one. This helps tell them apart!

These birds live in open forests, along forest edges, and in clearings with dead trees. They mostly eat insects, but sometimes they hunt other birds too. They lay their eggs in old nest holes made by other birds like barbets or woodpeckers. The white-fronted falconet is considered a near threatened species. This means its numbers are going down, mainly because its forest home is being cut down.

About the White-Fronted Falconet

The white-fronted falconet was first named Microhierax latifrons in 1879. This was done by the British bird expert Richard Bowdler Sharpe. He found specimens of this bird near the Lawas River in Borneo.

The name Microhierax comes from two old Greek words. Mikros means "small," and hierax means "hawk." The second part of its scientific name, latifrons, comes from Latin. Latus means "wide" or "broad," and frons means "forehead." So, its name basically means "small hawk with a broad forehead." The official common name, white-fronted falconet, was given by the International Ornithologists' Union.

This bird is one of five species in the Microhierax group of falconets. These birds are found across Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Philippines.

What Does It Look Like?

Male white-fronted falconets

The white-fronted falconet is a very small falcon, like a tiny shrike. It is only about 14–17 cm (5.5–6.7 in) long. It weighs between 35–65 g (1.2–2.3 oz). Its wings can spread 28–31 cm (11–12 in) wide. It is the smallest of all the falconets.

Both male and female birds have shiny bluish-black feathers on their upper parts. They also have black sides and outer thighs. A black mask covers their eyes. Their throat, cheeks, and chest are white. This color changes to a pale yellowish-brown on their belly. Their tail is short and black.

You can tell males and females apart by their head. Males have a white forehead and the top of their head is also white. Females have a reddish-brown forehead and top of their head. Females are also a bit bigger than males. Their tails are about 4 percent longer. Both sexes have brown eyes. Their beaks and legs are dark grey to black. Young birds look like females, but their forehead and cheeks are a tawny-buff color.

This falconet might look similar to the black-thighed falconet. However, the white-fronted falconet has a unique forehead color. This helps to tell it apart from other falconets. The black-thighed falconet also has more reddish-brown on its belly. It has white stripes under its tail, which are missing on the white-fronted falconet.

We don't know much about the sounds the white-fronted falconet makes. But it is thought to sound like other falconets. It makes a shaky kree-kree-kree sound.

Where Does It Live?

The white-fronted falconet lives only on the island of Borneo. You can find it in the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah. It also lives in the very northeastern part of Kalimantan, which is in Indonesia.

It likes to live in open forests and along the edges of forests. It also lives in clearings where there are dead trees. You can find it in areas where people farm, as long as there are trees around. It seems to be quite common on mountain slopes. Sometimes, it is also seen in mangrove forests. These birds live at different heights, from sea level up to 1,200 m (3,900 ft) high.

What Does It Eat?

The white-fronted falconet usually eats insects. It hunts dragonflies, bees, and cicadas. Sometimes, it has been seen chasing and catching other birds. These birds often hunt from a perch. They fly out to catch insects in the air. Then they return to their perch to eat their meal. This usually takes about two minutes.

How Does It Reproduce?

The breeding season for the white-fronted falconet is thought to be from March to June. Or it might be from March to April. However, some breeding has also been seen in November. In Sabah, a male was seen feeding a young bird that could already fly in late July.

These birds make their nests in old holes. These holes are usually made by barbets or woodpeckers. A female white-fronted falconet usually lays two eggs. We don't know how long the eggs take to hatch. We also don't know how long it takes for the young birds to be ready to fly. Adult males have been seen grooming each other. But we don't know if they breed in groups like the collared falconet.

Why Is It Near Threatened?

The white-fronted falconet is listed as a near threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This means it's not in immediate danger, but its future is a concern. It has a small living area, and its population is slowly getting smaller.

Experts believe there are about 15,000 to 30,000 white-fronted falconets in total. About 10,000 to 19,999 of these are adult birds. Their numbers are dropping by about 10–19% every ten years.

One big threat is deforestation, which means forests are being cut down. This happens a lot in the lowlands where they live. Forest fires also destroy their homes. However, these birds can sometimes live in areas where forests are regrowing. This shows they might be able to adapt a little. Another threat is the cage-bird trade. Some people catch these birds to keep them as pets.