Eurasian Hobby
Falco subbuteo
The Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo) is a common falcons and caracara found in 127 countries, weighing about 208 g. The Eurasian hobby, or just hobby, is a small, slim falcon.
About the Eurasian Hobby
The Eurasian hobby, or just hobby, is a small, slim falcon. It belongs to a group of similar falcons often considered a subgenus of Falco.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Adults are slate-grey above with a dark crown and two short black moustache stripes. The throat is unstreaked white, the thighs and undertail coverts are unstreaked rufous and the 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. The hobby has a distinct first-summer plumage. 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).
What the Eurasian Hobby sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Australia, Laos, Benin, Niger, Somalia.
When to see it
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, with peak activity in May. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Eurasian Hobby?
- Adults are slate-grey above with a dark crown and two short black moustache stripes. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Eurasian Hobby?
- The Eurasian Hobby is a medium sized bird weighing about 208 g.
- Where can you see a Eurasian Hobby?
- The Eurasian Hobby occurs in 127 countries, including Sweden, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Spain.
- What does a Eurasian Hobby sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Eurasian Hobby on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Eurasian Hobby?
- The Eurasian Hobby is most easily confused with the Nankeen Kestrel, the Prairie Falcon and the Brown Falcon.
- Is the Eurasian Hobby endangered?
- The Eurasian Hobby is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Eurasian Hobby for real
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