Page 144 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

BIRDS OF PREY
Order Falconiformes Family Falconidae Species Falco subbuteo
Hobby

black “moustache”
ADULT long, tapered pale patch
wings on cheeks
and throat
pale cheeks;
pale patch
plain dark on nape heavy
back streaks
dark below
reddish IN FLIGHT
under tail
slightly browner
than adult
thick black
streaks
on pale
underparts
no red
FLIGHT: easy, relaxed with fluent wingbeats; hunts under
in gliding, swooping, patrolling flight with sudden tail
twists and changes of height, direction, and pace. rufous
thighs
JUVENILE ADULT
o bird outdoes the Hobby for
Nsheer elegance when it is hawking
insects above a marsh, heath, or field on
a summer evening. It floats over open short,
narrow,
space, speeding up to take prey: its plain tail
seemingly effortless acceleration takes
it into a dive, or a chase, or a smooth
upward glide, before an extremely neat
“take”, using its feet to catch larger
insects such as chafers and dragonflies.
It is unusual among European falcons,
being a summer visitor from Africa.
VOICE Clear, musical, whistled
kyu-kyu-kyu-kyu.
NESTING No nest (like other
falcons), lays eggs inside old nest of
Rook or crow; 2 or 3 eggs; 1 brood;
June–August.
FEEDING Catches small birds such
as martins and swallows in flight and PINE TREE NURSERY DYNAMIC FLIGHT
many insects such as dragonflies A crow’s nest in a tall conifer makes an ideal Hobbies catch insects with deft turns, but
and large aerial beetles. place for the Hobby to nest. make long, fast dives after small birds.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Most of Europe except far north,
PEREGRINE plainer from April to October, breeding in
see p.143 face
clumps of trees. Hunts over open
stockier
chunkier ground, heaths, farmland with
wings
barred, not trees, and marshy ground,
streaked, below especially around flooded pits
with large flying insects.
broader across
rump and MERLIN 32; Seen in the UK
shoulders in flight see p.144 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 28–35cm (11–14in) Wingspan 70–84cm (28–33in) Weight 130–340g (5–12oz)
Social Small feeding flocks Lifespan Up to 10 years Status Secure
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