Black-thighed Falconet

Black-thighed Falconet

Microhierax fringillarius

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
at Way Kambas National Park

In 3 days ~60% in a week ~90%

73 Verified sightings at Way Kambas National Park From 2019 to 2026
1,025 In all 7 parks
October Best month
🌅 Crepuscular When it's spotted

About the Black-thighed Falconet

The black-thighed falconet (Microhierax fringillarius) is one of the smallest birds of prey, typically measuring between 14–16 centimetres (5.5–6.3 in) long, with a 27–32 centimetres (11–13 in) wingspan, which is a size comparable to a typical sparrow. It is native to Brunei, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, and vagrant to Sri Lanka.

Thomas Horsfield described to the Linnean Society of London in 1820 a Javan variety of Falco cærulescens (the collared falconet). He noted that "the Javan specimens are somewhat smaller, and differently marked" than the Bengal specimen which had been described by John Edwards in 1750. A fuller description was published in his 1824 book, Zoological Researches in Java.

Also in 1824, Auguste Drapiez published the name Falco fringillarius, and Nicholas Vigors proposed the genus Ierax or Hierax. This is a minute, shrike-like falcon, with a squarish tail that is frequently spread. The adult male is glossy black above, with a white forehead streak that arcs around black cheeks. It has a white or rufous-washed throat, with a white breast shading into a rufous abdomen. Its thighs and flanks... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Call0:06

Malaysia · 2019

© Somkiat Pakapinyo (Chai) · XC496059 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call0:06

Thailand · 2016

© Greg Irving · XC317255 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Way Kambas National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~30%
2 Taman Negara National Park 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~20%
3 Tanjung Puting National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~20%
4 Bali Barat National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~20%
5 Khao Luang National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
~10%
6 Kaeng Krachan National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
~10%
7 Kerinci Seblat National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Kuala Lumpur 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~20%
2 Singapore 🇸🇬 Singapore
<5%

Closest Relatives at Way Kambas National Park

No species of the same family or order lives in Way Kambas National Park, so these are its closest relatives here: other birds.

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Black-thighed Falconet in Way Kambas National Park?

Possible

About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Black-thighed Falconet sighting in Way Kambas National Park on a given day, based on 73 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 71st most-seen of the 205 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Black-thighed Falconet in Way Kambas National Park?

October

In that month about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Black-thighed Falconet in Way Kambas National Park on a given day, against about 20% in March–May, July and September, the lowest months. November to February have too few records to rate.

What time of day is best to see a Black-thighed Falconet?

Between 1 and 4 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black-thighed Falconet sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is most active around dawn and dusk.

Is Way Kambas National Park the best place to see a Black-thighed Falconet?

Yes

Of the 7 parks where we can rate Black-thighed Falconet sightings, Way Kambas National Park has the highest daily chance: about 30%. Next come Taman Negara National Park (Malaysia, about 20%) and Tanjung Puting National Park (Indonesia, about 20%).

Where does the Black-thighed Falconet sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Black-thighed Falconet is recorded against all the birds logged in Way Kambas National Park (73 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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