Scientific Name: Microhierax fringillarius
Malay Name: Rajawali-Belalang Melayu
Chinese Name: 黑腿小隼
Range:
Found from the Thai-Malay Peninsula to the Greater Sundas
Taxonomy:
Monotypic.
Size: 15-17 cm
Identification:
Adult has blackish crown, ear-covert patch, nape and upperparts, whitish forehead, narrow down-curving supercilium, throat and upper-breast and chestnut rest of underparts. Juvenile resembles adult but has pale chestnut supercilium
Habitat: Forest, forest edge and suitable wooded areas.
Behaviour/Ecology: Frequently darts out rapidly from a perch to capture flying insects. Will also attack small birds.
Local Status: Very rare non-breeding visitor
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)
Location: Last two confirmed sightings were at Malcolm Park/Goldhill Ave on 30 May 2021 and National Equestrian Centre on 9 July 2021.
Previous confirmed sightings were an immature at Jalan Ulu Sembawang (11 Oct 1979, 2 Oct 1983, 1 Dec 1983 and 12 Apr 1986) and an adult at Central Catchment Forest on 7 Oct 1990. The two recent records at Bukit Batok Nature Park on 23 Oct and 27 Nov 2005 could not be ascertained.
Photos:
External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Photos: Oriental Bird Images
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Microhierax fringillarius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. Downloaded on 2 September 2021
Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.
Lim, K. S., Chia, A., Yong, D. L., & Chew, J. (2009). The Avifauna of Singapore. Nature Society (Singapore).
Robson, C. (2008). A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers.