Collared Falconet

The collared falconet is a minute, shrike-shaped falcon about 18 cm long. It is boldly pied, with dark upperparts, white underparts, a broad white collar and strong white eyebrows framing a black facial mask. Rufous colouring marks the lower belly and thighs, while the short hooked bill, yellow facial skin and powerful feet reveal its raptorial nature. The sexes look similar. When perched conspicuously on a bare twig it often bobs its head and slowly pumps its tail (BirdForum species account; Wikipedia, general species account).

It ranges along the Himalayan foothills and through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Favoured places include open deciduous woodland, clearings and edges of evergreen forest, abandoned cultivation with scattered trees and sites near rivers, generally at low to middle elevations. From an exposed perch it launches rapid flights after large insects and may also take small birds, lizards and small mammals. Breeding birds use an old woodpecker or barbet cavity and lay three or four eggs (BirdForum species account).