Eurasian Hobby

Falco subbuteo

Family: Falcons and Caracaras · Status: Vagrant · Size: 30–36 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Breeds across Europe and temperate Asia to northern Korea and Japan; winters south to sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent, southern China, and Indochina.

Identification

Adult has slate-blue upperparts, heavily streaked underparts on a whitish background, reddish-rufous thighs and vent, and a dark moustachial stripe set off by white cheeks and throat. Shows more slender wings and body than Peregrine Falcon, with a darker crown, narrower moustachial stripe, unbarred uppertail and uniformly dark underwing; the latter also separates it from Amur Falcon, which shows a dark trailing edge to the otherwise pale or spotted underwing. Juvenile has brown upperparts and buffish vent; can resemble juvenile Amur Falcon but shows a uniformly dark underwing and lacks the pale collar which gives it a darker-headed appearance.

Habitat

Open country, reclaimed land and wooded areas; most likely on passage during raptor migration.