Birdwatching

HOBBY


Arguably the most beautiful of our commoner falcons. Distinctive silhouette,slim,with very long,norrow,pointed scythe shaped wings and shortish medium length tail shape can suggest gigantic Swift(Apus apus) or ,when hawking insects over water, Black Tern(Chlidonias niger)


Far more conspicuous in its aerial feeding behaviour than Merlin,is likely to be seen hawking flying insects over heathland,downland or lake edges,twisting and turning as it snatches dragonflies and other insects in talons before transferring them to bill.




Also pursues birds and,like Peregrine, spends some time circling to great height before turning and stooping into flocks of Swifts and hirundines, its favoured prey anguished shrill shrip shrip bird of prey alarm call of House Martin is often first indication of presence of Hobby.




Does not habitually sit out on prominent perches,but prefers to land within tree canopy,occasionally will,like Red footed Falcan, feed in shrike like manner from fence post. Adult,when seen well,grey above and heavily streaked on breast and belly,with rufous thighs that may flash at distance,black moistachial stripes stands out against prominent white face the juvenile, browner than adult,with paker feather fringes on upperparts and less rufous vent.

Calls is a deep,slow,pew pew pew, pitfalls....Less likely to be confused with Peregrine because of latter's greater bulk and broader wings,but high flying Merlin often misidentified as Hobby,Kestrel will, on occasion, hawk flying insects just like Hobby so be cautious when identifying distant individuals.