Hobby Bird Facts (Falco subbuteo)

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Hobby is a small, sleek falcon with long, pointed wings and a relatively short tail. Its upperparts are slate-grey, contrasting with a white throat and dark 'moustache' streaks. The underparts are white with bold black streaks. Eyes are brown with a yellow eye ring and white eyebrow, and legs are yellow.

Both sexes look similar, with females being slightly larger. Juveniles show a buffy wash on the underparts and less distinct streaking. In flight, the Hobby's silhouette resembles a large swift, with its streamlined body and sickle-shaped wings.

A useful identification feature is 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.

Size

Length

28cm to 35cm

Wingspan

70cm to 84cm

Weight

130g to 340g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Blue Grey

Secondary Colour

White Rufous

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Hobby can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Hobby is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Hobby is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Hobby is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Hobby can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Hobby can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Hobby is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Hobby is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Hobby is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Hobby is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Hobby is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Hobby is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Hobbies inhabit open woodlands, forest edges, and farmland with scattered trees across Europe and Asia. They prefer areas near water bodies, which attract their insect prey. During summer, they breed across much of Europe, including the UK.

In winter, Hobbies migrate to sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia. They are absent from most of their European range from September to April, returning to breed in late spring.

In the UK, 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.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Hobby. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Breeding

Passage

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Algeria Angola Bangladesh Benin Bhutan Botswana Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Côte D'Ivoire Cyprus Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Egypt Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Finland France Gabon Gambia Germany Gibraltar Greece Hong Kong Iran Ireland Italy Jordan Kenya Laos Lebanon Liberia Libya Malawi Maldives Mali Mauritania Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nigeria Romania Rwanda Seychelles Slovenia Somalia South Africa South Korea Spain Sudan Syria Tanzania Thailand Togo Tunisia Uganda Ukraine Zambia Zimbabwe

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Afghanistan Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina China Croatia Czech Republic Georgia Hungary India Israel Japan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Moldova Mongolia Montenegro Myanmar Nepal Netherlands North Korea Norway Pakistan Poland Portugal Russia Serbia Slovakia Sweden Switzerland Tajikistan The United Kingdom Turkey Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Vietnam

Species that pass through the area during migration

Bahrain Iraq Kuwait Malta Oman Palestine Qatar Saudi Arabia South Sudan United Arab Emirates Yemen

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Cameroon Canada Chad East Timor (Timor-Leste) Faroe Islands Ghana Guinea Iceland Indonesia Lesotho Malaysia Senegal Singapore Taiwan United States of America

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 95

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Hobby is renowned for its exceptional aerial agility, capable of outmanoeuvring swifts and catching insects mid-flight. Its streamlined body and sickle-shaped wings contribute to its remarkable manoeuvrability.

Strength 60

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

While not exceptionally strong for its size, the Hobby possesses sufficient strength to capture small birds in flight and carry insects. Its ability to hunt swifts demonstrates a respectable level of power.

Adaptability 80

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Hobbies show good adaptability, inhabiting various environments from woodlands to farmlands and urban areas. Their ability to adjust their diet seasonally and utilise existing nests also indicates strong adaptive capabilities.

Aggressiveness 70

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Hobbies display moderate aggression, particularly during hunting and territorial disputes. Their bold hunting strategy of pursuing swift-flying prey and their willingness to chase off intruders suggest a notable level of assertiveness.

Endurance 85

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The Hobby's long-distance migration between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, coupled with its ability to engage in extended aerial hunts, indicates impressive endurance. Its capacity for sustained flight during migration and hunting demonstrates remarkable stamina.

Diet

Hobbies primarily feed on large flying insects such as dragonflies, beetles, and moths. They also hunt small birds, particularly swallows and swifts, which they catch in mid-air. Their diet varies seasonally, with more birds taken during the breeding season and insects during migration.

Behaviour

Hobbies are known for their incredible aerial agility. They are often seen chasing insects and small birds in mid-air. They frequently hunt in pairs, with one bird flushing prey while the other pursues.

During courtship, males perform spectacular sky-dancing displays, showcasing their speed and manoeuvrability.

Vocalisation

Although generally a silent bird, the Hobby's call is a rapid, high-pitched 'kew-kew-kew' or 'kee-kee-kee', often given during territorial disputes or when alarmed. During courtship, males produce a softer, chattering call. Their vocalisations are less frequent and less varied than many other falcon species.

Nesting & Breeding

Hobbies typically form monogamous pairs and begin breeding in May or June. They do not build their own nests; instead, they take over the old nests of other birds, particularly crows.

The female lays 2-3 eggs, which are creamy-white with reddish-brown spots. Both parents share incubation duties, which lasts about 28-31 days.

Chicks fledge after 28-34 days but remain dependent on their parents for several weeks, perfecting their flying and hunting skills.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

While the Hobby is currently listed as Least Concern, it faces threats from habitat loss and agricultural intensification. Climate change may affect its prey availability and migration patterns. Conservation efforts focus on protecting breeding habitats and maintaining insect-rich environments.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

900,000 - 1,500,000 mature individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

Look for Hobbies near woodland edges or open areas with scattered trees
Observe their swift, agile flight, often mistaken for that of a large swift
Its wingbeats are smooth and relaxed, although it can accelerate or dive in an instant
Listen for their high-pitched 'kew-kew-kew' calls during the breeding season
In the UK, watch for them hunting dragonflies over lakes and reservoirs in late summer
The bright white cheek patternation and red-brown undertail colouration provide an easy reference for the positive identification of this bird

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Eurasian Hobby

Family:

Falconidae

Average Lifespan

7 to 10 years

Predators

Adult Hobbies have few natural predators due to their agility, but eggs and nestlings may fall prey to martens, crows, and larger birds of prey.

Did You Know?

Hobbies can catch and eat their insect prey in mid-air without landing.
They are among the few birds that can outfly and catch swifts.
The name 'Hobby' comes from the French 'hobet', meaning a small bird of prey.
Some years ago, a satellite tracking experiment with a hobby found that it took the bird just four days to cross the Sahara Desert, and on another occasion, a similar bird was recorded as travelling some 1,250 kilometres in just two days.