Malaysian Falcons

By Nursyereen Mohd Nasir, Dzulhelmi Nasir & Helda Tanginang

The family Falconidae contains small to medium-size birds of prey. The birds from this family have a strong hooked bill, curved talons, long pointed wings and excellent eyesight. Falconidae differs from hawks, eagles and kites, in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons. The family has a wide distribution, only to be absent from the Arctic and Antarctica. The peregrine falcon is especially a cosmopolitan species, distributed throughout the world. Some species are endemic while others are migratory. The Amur falcon has the longest migration route from East Asia to southern Africa. Falcon is known for its dive when catching prey. Of 62 species of falcons worldwide, 7 species occur in Malaysia. They are the Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), Oriental hobby (Falco severus), Eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo), Eurasian kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), Amur falcon (Falco amurensis), White-fronted falconet (Microhierax latifrons) and Black-thighed falconet (Microhierax fringillarius). 

Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus is a cosmopolitan bird species, found all around the world. This makes it the world’s most widespread raptor. It is also very successful as urban wildlife, using tall buildings as nest sites. The name which means “wandering falcon” is a reflection of this species migratory habits. 17 to 19 subspecies were identified, with plumage variations. The adult is most commonly characterized by bluish-black upperpart and pointed wings, white underpart barred with black bands and the top of the head and moustache coloured black. Distinctive malar (cheekbone) stripes are present in falcons to reduce glare from solar radiation. This species is sexually dimorphic. The peregrine falcon is known for its high speed when performing stoop, an act of soaring to a great height and diving down to chase prey, thriving as the fastest bird in the world. Larger prey is knocked down and fed upon the ground. It also pursues prey in level flight and may fly low on the ground or sea. The diet consists of birds and small mammals, with pigeons being common prey in urban areas. Peregrine nests in a scrape on cliff edges, sometimes in an old nest of other birds, hollow trees and human-made structures such as tall buildings or bridges. The peregrine becomes sexually mature at one year of age and mates for life. During the courtship period, the male provides food to the female, while the female remains near the nest vocalizing and guarding it. The clutch size is around 3 to 4 eggs, incubated mostly by female around 35 days. Male brings food for the female during the incubation period. Female will only hunt again after about 2 weeks of the nestling period. The young begin fledging around one month of age, exercising wing, chasing and catching insects and taking prey from adults by practicing the stoop.

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus (Photo credit: Oleg Chernyshov)

The Oriental hobby, Falco severus is distributed in the northern Indian subcontinent, across the eastern Himalayas, through Indochina to Australasia. It is a vagrant from Malaysia, meaning a bird that shows up outside its normal range. A small falcon ranging in size of 27-30cm long, the adult is bluish-grey above with black hood, chestnut underpart and white throat. Usually solitary, sometimes they occur in pairs or groups. This species can be found on cliffs as well as forest clearings, building ledges and telecommunication poles suggesting a certain level of tolerance to human surroundings. Insects and small birds are often the prey with bats on rare occasions. Hunting from exposed perch on a tall tree or dead tree, it launches direct, strong flight and captures prey in the air. The breeding season varies regionally. It nests in holes in trees or in the old nest of other birds on cliffs or building ledges. The clutch size is 2 to 4 eggs, with a month of incubation period and another month of the fledging period.

Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo or the Malay name Rajawali Tongkeng Merah Utara is a small, slim falcon. It is found in Europe, temperate Asia, and winters south towards the Thai-Malay Peninsula and Java. The adult has a dark crown with short, narrow moustachial stripes. The throat is white and the underpart is white with black streaks and reddish rufous vent. The juvenile is similar to the adult but with a duller crown and buffish vent. Bird of open country and farmland, this streamlined long-winged falcon is fast and powerful and appears swift-like in flight. It hunts dragonflies, bats and small birds such as swallow with its talons and transfers them to its beak. Sometimes, the prey is eaten in flight while soaring slowly in a circle. Like most falcons, it builds nest in an old nest of birds, preferring trees in a hedge. The clutch size is 2 to 4 eggs with a 28 days’ incubation period. Both parents share the duty of incubating the eggs. 

The Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus is one of the smallest birds of prey belonging to the falcon family. This species occurs in Europe, Asia and Africa, winters down to South Asia and Southeast Asia, including Malaysia. Displaying sexual colour dimorphism, the male of this species has a light grey head, chestnut brown coloured plumage with black spots on the upperside and yellowish brown underside with black spots. The female has a chestnut brown head and upperpart, with a yellowish-brown underside. The plumage is marked with black streaks that are close together. The tip of the tails of both sexes is black with a narrow white rim. Malar stripes are present in this species. Found in open country, field and marshland, this kestrel mostly feeds on small mammals particularly rodents but sometimes may feed on other birds, bats, lizards and insects. Eurasian kestrel hunts by soaring above the ground using ridge lift, and steeply diving onto the prey. Other times, they can also be seen perching above ground cover and pouncing the prey, as well as hunting on the ground. This kestrel is a solitary animal, only seen in pairs during the breeding season. The display of courtship includes vocalization and beating of wings. Mating pairs will fly together at great heights by sharp wing beats and slight rocking motion and dive to the nest with V-shape wings. They nest on the nest of other birds on ledges or in trees. The clutch size is 2 to 7 eggs. Incubation takes about 26 to 34 days and fledging occurs about a month after the eggs hatched. Both parents help in raising the youngs but the female is the sole incubator of the eggs. Fledglings depend on their parents for food for about 2 months. The juvenile will reach sexual maturity at the next breeding season but do not mate on that very year.

Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus (Photo credit: Oleg Chernyshov)

Falco amurensis or the Amur falcon is a small falcon, breeds in Eastern Siberia and Northern China and migrates through India and Sri Lanka and sometimes further east to Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia to the Middle East to reach South Africa. The male of this falcon is characterized by the sooty grey plumage with rufous-orange thighs and vent. The female has a dull grey upperpart and white chest marked with black chevrons. The distinctive features of this falcon are the reddish-orange eyering, cere and feet. They are quite social as they breed, migrate and roost together in a big flock. The Amur falcon feeds mainly on insects, preferably insects from a large swarm such as locusts and alates. Other small birds, lizards and small mammals are sometimes taken. They mostly catch their prey in flight by hovering, but at times alighting on the ground. In migration, they prefer open woodland to roost. During breeding, several pairs may nest together forming loose colonies. Like other falcons, the Amur falcon nests in the old nest of other birds. The clutch size is 3 to 4 eggs of which each is laid at two days' intervals. The eggs hatch after about a month. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the youngs. The youngs fledge in about a month and leave the nest. 

The White-fronted falconet, Microhierax latifronsis one of the world's smallest raptors. Endemic to Sabah, Borneo, it is considered as Near Threatened due to its restricted range and reliance on lowland forests. The population is also likely to be declining because of habitat degradation. The white-fronted falconet is black and white in colour. Black upperpart, the chest is white with a pale orangish belly. As the name suggests, the male of this species has a white crown and face meanwhile the crown and face of the female is rusty-orange. The white-fronted falconet is sociable, forming a loose family association in the canopy of lowland rainforest. Individuals sit separately on bare, exposed perches, visible to each other up to several hundred metres apart, sometimes exchanging perch and sharing prey. This falconet feeds on large insects such as cicadas, locusts, katydids and other small birds. Using the old nest of barbets or woodpecker to nest, the clutch size is 2 to 3 eggs. Unlike other falconets, this species breeds during the rainy season in September and October.  This species is sometimes mistaken with the Black-thighed falconet, M. fringillarius.

White Fronted Falconet Microhierax latifrons (Photo credit: LiewWK Nature)

The Black-thighed falconet, M. fringillarius being one of the smallest birds of prey, is somewhat similar to Microhierax latifrons. At a glance, these two species are hard to discern. The distinguishing features of The Black-thighed falconet are the white streaks that arcs above black cheeks. The forehead is black with a white area just above the beak. The chest is white and the belly is rustic orange in colour. True to its name, the thighs and the entire legs are black. This species is generally social, often found in small flocks. Its population is distributed in most parts of Southeast Asia (Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia). This falconet which is typically found in forest, forest edge and open wooded area, is very tolerant to habitat disturbances thus is also found in human cultivation, village and forest clearance. It preys on insects such as moths, butterflies and dragonflies, occasionally bats and small birds. Its foraging behavior is aerial, hunting prey in the air from a perch. Although uncommon, it has also been observed to prey below the canopy level. The breeding season for this species in Malaysia is between November until March. They usually nest in old nest holes of barbets. The clutch size is 2 to 6 eggs, with incubation period around 3 weeks and the chicks fledge around 2 1/2 to 3 weeks. The unique thing about their breeding behaviour is that they were aided by an outsider female to incubate the eggs, feed the fledglings and take care of them. Their gregarious behaviour is shown further as the parents, the outsider female and the fledglings roost in the same nest hole.