adult

adult juvenile upperwing European distribution

Identification

The Hobby is about the size of a Kestrel but it has the dark blue upperparts and facial mask of a Peregrine. It is best identified by its unusually long, rather loose wings and characteristic swift-like flight. Also, the underparts are heavily streaked and the adults have rich chestnut undertail coverts.

Habitat

Breeds on heaths and farmland with isolated clumps of trees, and on the edges of woods.

Behaviour

The species has a characteristic way of feeding - catching insects with the feet and transferring them to the mouth in mid-air.

Migration

Migrates to sub-equatorial Africa during winter, usually during August and September and returning for the spring.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Hobby is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Burythorpe, N Yorks 01/09/2010	undisc. site, Worcs 30/08/2010	undisc. site, Worcs 30/08/2010	Ispir, Erzurum, Turkey (Asian) 17/05/2010	King George VI Reservoir, Surrey 15/08/2010
Banstead, Surrey 09/08/2010	Cley, Norfolk 09/08/2010	Low Barns, Durham 23/08/2010	Ambaston, Derbys 20/08/2010	undisc. site, Highland 18/08/2010

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Hobby breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Britain
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Latvia
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Moldova
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob3100.htm   BTO BirdFacts: Hobby	Edit this link
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