23 December 2007

World's Smallest Raptor

It is not an OWL.

After some search from the NET, and flipping thro' the guide books, I finally got the bird's ID.

It is Black Thighed Falconet .
(Microhierax fringillarius)
The world's smallest raptor, measuring only 16 cm. That's why known locally as Helang Belalang.








Link to its mating and nesting here.













4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Assalamualaikum w.b.t,

Found and observed this raptor at the back of my house,nesting inside dead tree.The hole previously has been occupied by woodpecker.After a few months,the tree fell down.Luckily,after investigating the tree,the bird,somehow escaped from the tree.Found no eggs or any dead raptors inside it.Since then,I never see this bird again.

Redzlan aka Tabib said...

You have a good observation.

Anonymous said...

SO CUTE!!!!!!!

artuso birds said...

Long-whiskered Owlet is smaller (only 13 cm)