Oriental Hobby

Oriental Hobby

Scientific Name: Falco severus
Malay Name: Rajawali Api Asia
Chinese Name: 猛隼

Range:
Found from northeastern Indian subcontinent to southern China, Indochina, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea and northern Melaneasia. A vagrant in Peninsula Malaysia and Singapore.

Taxonomy:
Monotypic.

Size: 27-30 cm

Identification:
Adult resembles Peregrine Falcon but is significantly smaller and has all blackish head-sides, whitish throat and reddish-rufous underparts. Juvenile resembles adult but has rufous underparts and blackish drop-like streaks on breast and belly.

Similar looking species: Amur Falcon, Eurasian Hobby, Peregrine Falcon

Habitat: Open country, secondary growth, farmland and mangroves.

Behaviour/Ecology:

Local Status: NIL

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: No records in Singapore. An immature claimed on 14 Jul 2002 and 18 Jul 2002 at Pulau Ubin Jetty turned out to be a Peregrine Falcon ernestii.

Photos:

External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Photos: Oriental Bird Images
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

Reference:
BirdLife International 2016. Falco severus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. Downloaded on 28 August 2021
Craig Robson (2011) A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia
Allen Jeyarajasingam & Alan Pearson (2012) A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore
Lim Kim Seng (2009) The Avifauna of Singapore

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