Hobby
The Eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo) is a small falcon. It is a very bold and courageous bird and was used in falconry, trained to hawk birds like quails, larks, hoopoes, drongos, etc.
Adults of this species 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 the rest of the underparts are whitish with black streaks. Close views enable the red "trousers" and vent to be seen. The males and the females have a similar appearance. Juveniles are generally much browner, with scaled upper parts and streaked buffy thighs and undertail coverts.
Eurasian hobbies breed across the Palearctic realm and winter in Africa and Asia. These birds inhabit farmlands, marshes, taiga, and savannas. They are widespread in lowlands with scattered small woods and can also be found in mountainous areas.
Eurasian hobbies can be seen singly, in pairs, or in family groups, while on migration, they may move in small groups. They are elegant birds of prey, appearing sickle-like in flight with their long pointed wings and square tail, often resembling a swift when gliding with folded wings. Eurasian hobbies are fast and powerful in flight and attack their prey by surprise. Large insects they transfer from talons to beaks and eat while soaring slowly in circles. Their speed and aerobatic skills enable hobbies to take swallows and even swifts on the wing. They may harass swallows while they are roosting and dispersing from roosts. When not breeding, Eurasian hobbies are crepuscular, hawking principally in the mornings and evenings.
Eurasian hobbies are carnivores. They feed on large insects, such as dragonflies, and also capture small bats[ and small birds in flight.
Eurasian hobbies are monogamous and solitary nesters. With the start of the breeding season, both partners perform spectacular aerial displays. 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. The female lays 2-4 eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs for about 24-28 days, though the female does the greater part. The chicks are ready to leave the nest when they are 28-34 days old but will depend on their parents for 5 weeks more.
Eurasian hobbies suffer from habitat loss, shooting, human disturbance, pesticide use, and wind energy development.
According to IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Eurasian hobby is 900,000-1,500,000 mature individuals. The European population consists of 140,000-219,000 pairs, which equates to 280,000-437,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
