Falcons, Hobbies & Kestral

The Falconidae family comprises 60 different species of predatory birds, including Falcons, Falconets, and Caracaras. The term "Falcon" is commonly used to represent 35 'true' Falcon species, which are further classified into three to four groups. These groups include the small and stocky Kestrels, the slightly larger Hobbies and their relatives, the variably sized Peregrine Falcons, and the Hierofalcons or Hawk-Falcons.

All raptors within this family share common features such as a hooked beak, powerful feet equipped with sharp talons, keen eyesight, and a carnivorous diet. Their beaks are uniquely designed, curved at the tip with sharp cutting edges to effectively rip and tear apart their prey. Falcons specifically employ their beaks to kill their prey by severing the spinal cord, while their feet act as lethal weapons.

Falcons are generally smaller birds compared to Hawks, which are known for their larger size but shorter wings in comparison to Falcons. Therefore, it is common to refer to Falcons as "long wing." Similar to other birds of prey, Falcons and Hawks exhibit sexual dimorphism. Eagles, on the other hand, have broad and rounded wings, and their eye color is pale yellow, distinct from the dark brown eyes of Falcons. Eagles boast one of the best eyesights among birds.

The peregrine falcon, also known as the peregrine and historically as the duck hawk in North America, is a cosmopolitan bird of prey in the Falconidae family. This large, crow-sized Falcon features a blue-grey back, barred white underparts, and a black head. Renowned for its speed, the peregrine can reach over 320 km/h (200 mph) during its characteristic hunting stoop, making it the fastest member of the animal kingdom.

Falcons possess plumes or 'flags' on their legs and a small projection in their beak, developed into a 'tooth.' Unlike Eagles, Hawks, and other predatory birds of the Accipitridae family, Falcons use the 'tomial tooth,' located on the side of the upper beak, to dispatch their prey.

Found on all continents except for the high Arctic and Antarctica, Falcons, including common species like Peregrine Falcons and Amur Falcons, are known for their migratory patterns to wintering grounds, such as in Malaysia.

Black-thighed Falconet

 The Black-thighed Falconet, recognized as one of the smallest birds of prey, typically boasts dimensions ranging from 14 to 16 centimeters in length, with a wingspan spanning 27 to 32 centimeters - roughly akin to that of a common Sparrow. Indigenous to Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, it occasionally ventures as a vagrant to Sri Lanka.

This diminutive raptor predominantly inhabits forests, forest edges, and wooded open areas, and is often observed in proximity to human cultivation, villages, and areas undergoing active slash-and-burn forest clearance. Its presence is frequently noted near rivers, streams, and paddy fields, with a preference for elevations below 1,500 meters.

The Black-thighed Falconet sustains itself primarily on an insect-based diet, encompassing moths, butterflies, dragonflies, alate termites, cicadas, occasional small birds, and lizards. Notably, its feeding behavior exhibits a social aspect, with recorded feeding parties comprising up to ten individuals. The bird adeptly captures much of its prey during swift flights launched from a perch.