by Christopher Chatterton

Created on: November 23, 2010

The Hobby Hawk, or 'Eurasian Hobby' (Falco subbuteo) is a supreme hunter of the skies, capable of blistering feats of speed and G-force-inducing turns that would make fighter pilots dizzy. Completely in their element, Hobby Hawk’s are true aerobatic birds of prey. Measuring around 12 to14-inches (30-36cm) in length the Hobby Hawk is roughly the size of the Kestrel, (Falco subbuteo) but is distinguished by its more crescent-shaped wings and a shorter tail (Holden & Cleeves, 2002).

Hobby Hawk’s differ further from their close relatives, the Kestrel, as their curved wings rest across a greater portion of their body when at rest, with wingtips extended up to and beyond the tail tip (Holden & Cleeves, 2002). Adult birds have slate-grey upper-body plumage, a noticeable white 'half-collar' around their necks, white cheek feathers with a black 'moustache', and white under-feathers with vertical black streaks. The feathers underneath the tail and thighs are reddish-brown. Sexes are alike but females are slightly larger in appearance (Holden & Cleeves, 2002).

Juvenile Hobby Hawk’s have brown upperparts with pale edges to the feathers, buff underparts with darker streaks and lack the red 'trousers' of the adults. First-summer immature Hobby Hawk’s bear a resemblance to 'washed-out' juveniles, with an overall lacklustre colouring (Holden & Cleeves, 2002).     

Hobby Hawk’s are somewhat rare summer visitors to Britian but can be seen across most of England and south Wales, and as far north as Northumbria. In Europe Hobby Hawk’s breed as far north as the Arctic Circle and east all the way across Russia and into Asia. European Hobby Hawk’s will also winter in southern Africa (Holden & Cleeves, 2002).

Behaviour

Being members of the Falcon family, Hobby Hawk’s are adept aerobatic masters of the sky and can pursue all but the most skilled of prey. In flight Hobby Hawk’s resemble a giant Swift (Apus apus) with their characteristic crescent-shaped wings and short-fanned tail. However, Hobby Hawk’s are substantially much faster and much more powerful fliers and generate powerful bursts of speed from deep wingbeats (Holden & Cleeves, 2002).

When hunting, Hobby Hawk’s are capable of sudden turns of speed and almost impossible breakneck turns. Indeed, Hobby Hawk’s are capable of catching the equally manoeuvrable Dragonflies in midair, by seizing them in their talons

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