Pied Falconet

The pied falconet, also called the white-legged falconet, is a small black and white raptor, about 18–19 cm long and weighing 55–75 g. The face is white with a prominent black patch across the eyes reaching to the ear coverts. It belongs to the genus Microhierax, which includes the smallest birds of prey in the world, and it nests in old barbet or woodpecker holes, laying three or four white eggs on a bed of leaves or grass (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos and Vietnam, ranging from north-eastern India to east China and Southeast Asia. It is usually perched on tree tops, occasionally flying off to catch prey. Its call starts high-pitched and excited and then slows. SoIB 2023 rates it a Moderate conservation priority, a resident forest bird that eats invertebrates, with a Restricted range of about 21,500 km² (Wikipedia, general species account; SoIB 2023).