Eurasian Hobby
Falco subbuteo
Streamlined long-winged falcon. Note gray upperparts with plain tail, boldly streaked underparts with rusty leggings and vent. Swift-like; flight more graceful and aerodynamic than Eurasian Kestrel. Compare with larger, stockier, shorter-tailed Peregrine Falcon. Favors open woodland, heathland, and farmland with stands of trees; often hunts over nearby water bodies and marshes. Hunts in the air, catching dragonflies, swallows, and other birds, which it sometimes eats on the wing.
Identification
Adults are slate-grey above with a dark crown and two short black moustachial stripes. The throat is unstreaked white, thighs and undertail coverts are unstreaked rufous and rest of the underparts are whitish with black streaks. Close views enable the red "trousers" and vent to be seen. Sexes are similar. Juveniles are generally much browner, with scaled upper parts and streaked buffy thighs and undertail coverts.<p>The hobby has a distinct first-summer plumage.<p>This falcon is 29–36 cm (11–14 in) in length with a wingspan of 74–84 cm (29–33 in) and a weight of 175–285 g (6.2–10.1 oz).
Taxonomy
The first formal description of the Eurasian hobby was by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the present binomial name Falco subbuteo. The genus name falco derives from Late Latin falx, falcis, a sickle, referring to the wing profile of the bird. The species name subbuteo is from Latin sub, "below, less than, under" and buteo, "buzzard". The species' English name comes from Old French hobé or hobet. It became the trademark for the Subbuteo games company after its creator, who was an ornithologist, was refused permission to register "Hobby".<p>Two subspecies are recognized:
- Scientific name
- Falco subbuteo
- Authority
- Linnaeus, 1758
- Order
- Falconiformes
- Family
- Falconidae
- Genus
- Falco
Range and habitat
This species breeds across the Palearctic realm. The subspecies F. s. subbuteo is a long-distance migrant, wintering in Africa. The subspecies F. s. streichi is mainly resident and does not migrate.
- Breeding range
- PAL : widespread
- Non-breeding range
- s AF, n OR
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
It is a bird of open country such as farmland, marshes, taiga and savannah. They are widespread in lowlands with scattered small woods. It is an elegant bird of prey, appearing sickle-like in flight with its long pointed wings and square tail, often resembling a swift when gliding with folded wings. It is fast and powerful in flight and will take large insects, such as dragonflies, which it transfers from talons to beak and eats while soaring slowly in circles. It also captures small bats and small birds in flight. Its speed and aerobatic skills enable it to take swallows and even swifts on the wing, and barn swallows or house martins have a characteristic "hobby" alarm call. It is known to harass swallows while they are roosting and dispersing from roosts. When not breeding, it is crepuscular, hawking principally in the mornings and evenings. While on migration, they may move in small groups.<p>Hobbies nest in old nests of crows and other birds. The tree selected is most often one in a hedge or on the extreme edge of a spinney, from where the bird can observe intruders from a considerable distance. It lays 2–4 eggs. Incubation is said to take 28 days and both parents share in this duty, though the female does the greater part.<p>It is a very bold and courageous bird and was used in falconry, trained to hawk birds like quails, larks, hoopoes, drongos, etc.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Mauritius Kestrel
Falco punctatus
Typical kestrel with a rufous back, white underparts, a barred tail, and a dark “moustache” mark on the face. Endangered and endemic to the island of Mauritius. Originally found in areas of rainforest with cliffs and other rocky areas; now found locally in secondary habitat as well as in remnant natural habitat. Spends much of its time on the wing. Call is a high, repeated “keek.” Shares general falcon shape with migrant Eleanora’s and Sooty Falcons, but smaller, with shorter, less pointed wings.
Coppery-headed Emerald
Microchera cupreiceps
Small hummingbird with obviously decurved bill. Male mostly glittering green with coppery crown and bright white outer tail feathers; female similar but with white underparts. Bill shape and white outer tail feathers are enough for identification. Found in forests and edges, usually singly but males sometimes gather to display.
Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush
Catharus frantzii
Small, plain-breasted thrush of highland forests, especially humid pine-oak. Feeds mainly on the ground, but also in fruiting bushes and trees. Sings from low to middle level perches, usually well hidden. More skulking than very similar Russet Nightingale-Thrush, but can be seen early and late in the day, hopping along the sides of quiet roads and paths. Slightly darker overall than Russet, with wholly pale orange underside of bill and plainer gray breast. Song distinctive: repeated fluty phrases, richer than Russet's song. Also compare with similar Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush.
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