Hobby

What does a Hobby look like?

Male and female hobbies look identical although the female is the slightly larger bird. Adults have pale creamy underparts with black streaks and long tapered wings, the underparts of which are cream in colour and marked with dark bars and spots, as is the undertail. A useful identification feature are the reddish brown coloured thighs and undertail coverts (the feathers that overlap the belly and tail) easily visible in flight or when the bird is perching on a branch or pole. They particularly stand out surrounded by the paler underparts. The upper parts and upperwing area are a plain slate grey. The head of the hobby is dark with a white chin, cheeks, throat and side of the neck which is split by a black moustache starting below the eye close to the top of the bill, passing in front of the cheek and behind the throat. Hobbies eyes are brown with a yellow eye ring and white eyebrow. The membrane covering the base of the upper mandible, otherwise known as the cere, is bright yellow with the rest of the hooked bill being black. The birds’ legs and feet are yellow with an orange hue and are prominent amongst the red brown coloured thighs. Juveniles have more brown colouration than the adults but lack the rufous colour under the tail.

Hobby showing white cheek and throat patches with black moustache

What does a Hobby sound like?

Generally a silent bird the hobby vocalises during courtship when its calls are similar to a ‘kyu – kyu – kyu’ or ‘kree – kree – kree – kree’.

What does a Hobby eat?

The diet of the hobby consists of larger flying insects and small birds such as swallows which is catches on the wing in its talons and will often consume whilst in flight.

Hobby hunting dragonfly

Where can I see Hobbies?

At home over grassland, heathland, wetlands and woodland areas the hobby can be found across England, most of Wales and more recently in small numbers in southern Scotland, generally appearing between April and October.

Signs and Spotting tips

A graceful bird to watch in flight, the hobby hunts in swooping and gliding movements able to change height and direction of travel extremely quickly. Its wingbeats are smooth and relaxed although it can accelerate or dive in an instant. The bright white cheek patternation and red brown undertail colouration provide an easy reference for the positive identification of this bird.

A Hobby flying through the air hunting for prey

Juvenile Hobby

How does a Hobby breed?

Hobbies use abandoned nests of other birds in which to lay their eggs, commonly choosing old crows or magpie nests high in the tree tops. One clutch of 2 – 3 yellowy buff eggs with brown markings is laid between June to August and incubated mainly by the female for a month.

A Hobby's nest

Hobby chicks in their nest

How long do Hobbies live for?

The lifespan of the hobby is ten years maximum although usually a lot less.