Falconiformes / Falconidae / Falco
Eurasian Hobby
Falco subbuteo · 燕隼
Introduction
A small, slim falcon belonging to the subgenus Falco. It breeds across the Palearctic realm, inhabiting open country such as farmland, marshes, taiga, and savannah. Distinctive for its fast, aerobatic flight and diet of large insects like dragonflies, which it eats while soaring. Two subspecies are recognized.
Description
Adults are slate-grey above with a dark crown and two short black moustache stripes. The throat is unstreaked white, while thighs and undertail coverts are unstreaked rufous; the rest of the underparts are whitish with black streaks. Close views reveal red trousers and vent. Sexes are similar. Juveniles are browner with scaled upper parts and streaked buffy thighs and undertail coverts. Length is 29–36 cm (11–14 in), wingspan 74–84 cm (29–33 in), and weight 175–285 g (6.2–10.1 oz).
Identification
Appears sickle-like in flight with long pointed wings and a square tail, often resembling a swift when gliding with folded wings. Fast and powerful flier. Barn swallows and house martins have a characteristic alarm call in response to its presence.
Distribution & Habitat
Breeds across the Palearctic. Subspecies F. s. subbuteo is a long-distance migrant wintering in Africa, Central and South Africa, and South Asia. Subspecies F. s. streichi is mainly resident from Myanmar to south China and north Indochina. Rare vagrant in North America (Massachusetts, Washington, Alaska, Newfoundland, British Columbia), Australia, and Brazil.
Behavior & Ecology
Inhabits lowlands with scattered small woods. Hawks principally in mornings and evenings when not breeding. Feeds on large insects like dragonflies, transferring them from talons to beak to eat while soaring. Also captures small bats, swallows, swifts, and other small birds in flight. Known to harass swallows at roosts. Nests in old nests of crows and other birds, often in hedges or spinney edges. Lays 2–4 eggs; incubation takes 28 days with both parents sharing duties, though the female does more. May move in small groups during migration.
Culture
Used in falconry to hawk birds like quails, larks, hoopoes, and drongos. The name became the trademark for the Subbuteo games company.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Falconiformes
- Family
- Falconidae
- Genus
- Falco
Subspecies (2)
-
Falco subbuteo streichi
southern and eastern China to Myanmar and northern Indochina
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.
