White-fronted Falconet Microhierax latifrons Scientific name definitions

14–17 cm (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); 35–65 g; wingspan 28–31 cm (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Typical falconet (albeit marginally the smallest) (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), with glossy blue-black upperparts, shortish tail (although wings reach only just beyond halfway to tip at rest), black flanks patch and outside thighs, and black mask (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); distinguished from sympatric M. fringillarius, and indeed from all congeners, by having forehead and forecrown white  in male , rufous-chestnut in female; pale tan wash on belly and undertail-coverts (this region is much deeper rufous in M. fringillarius), offering slight contrast with rest of white underparts (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); also notice plain black tail; M. fringillarius has white bars on underside (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). In addition to forehead colour, female also larger, by 9% in size, 4% in tail length; no information on weight (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Eyes brown, and cere and legs dark slate to black (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Juvenile almost identical to adult female, but male has tawny-buff forehead and ear-coverts, and female shows some chestnut coloration on crown from early age (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); also has some broken white barring on undertail.

N Borneo in extreme NE Kalimantan and Sabah (2 Irham, M., Meijaard, E. and van Balen, S. (2012). New information on the distribution of White-fronted Microhierax latifrons and Black-thighed Falconets M. fringillarius in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Forktail 28: 162–163. Close ).

Open forests, edges and clearings, including cultivated areas with scattered trees (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), from sea-level to above 1200 m.

Sedentary.

Mainly insects  , especially dragongflies (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) and also including bees, but also reported pursuing birds (no more specific information) (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Family parties observed; probably hunting gatherings similar to those reported for M. fringillarius. Presumably hunts in similar fashion to latter species.

Apparently undescribed, but considered similar to vocalizations of congenerics (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Thought to breed in Mar–Apr, with male feeding fully fledged young in late Jul in Sabah; account of family group in Nov probably refers to hunting group, rather than evidence of recent breeding. No aerial displays known (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Reported to nest in old woodpecker and barbet holes. Groups of adult males seen allopreening in autumn 2013 (3 Thorley, J. (2013). Allopreening by White-fronted Falconet Microhierax latifrons. BirdingASIA. 20: 10-11. Close ); not known if present species nests communally, as does M. caerulescens. No further information available.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. CITES II. Population, which is suspected to be declining, is currently estimated at between 10,000 and 20,000 individuals within an overall range of 54,500 km². Status uncertain, but species appears to be fairly common within its restricted range. Long-term threat could be loss of forest habitat, although it is likely to be resilient to some degree of habitat degradation (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Research required, especially on breeding biology and population status.