Which bird of prey is the smallest falcon species in the world?

The black-thighed falconet is the smallest falcon species in the world.

This tiny raptor lives in parts of Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. Adults are only about 15 centimetres long, making the species closer in size to a small songbird than to the large falcons used in traditional falconry.

Despite its size, the black-thighed falconet is an active hunter. It takes insects and other small prey from perches or during short aerial pursuits, often working around forest edges and open woodland.

It is sometimes confused with the American kestrel because both are small falcons. The kestrel, however, is much larger and is the smallest falcon commonly encountered across North America, not the smallest falcon in the world.