Hobby

The Hobby is a small, sleek falcon with long, pointed wings and a relatively short tail. Its upperparts are slate-grey, contrasting with a white throat and dark 'moustache' streaks. The underparts are white with bold black streaks. Eyes are brown with a yellow eye ring and white eyebrow, and legs are yellow.

Both sexes look similar, with females being slightly larger. Juveniles show a buffy wash on the underparts and less distinct streaking. In flight, the Hobby's silhouette resembles a large swift, with its streamlined body and sickle-shaped wings.

A useful identification feature is the reddish brown-coloured thighs and undertail coverts (the feathers that overlap the belly and tail), easily visible in flight or when the bird is perching on a branch or pole.

Generally a silent bird the hobby vocalises during courtship when its calls are similar to a ‘kyu – kyu – kyu’ or ‘kree – kree – kree – kree’.

At home over grassland, heathland, wetlands and woodland areas the hobby can be found across England, most of Wales and more recently in small numbers in southern Scotland, generally appearing between April and October.

A graceful bird to watch in flight, the hobby hunts in swooping and gliding movements able to change height and direction of travel extremely quickly. Its wingbeats are smooth and relaxed although it can accelerate or dive in an instant. The bright white cheek patternation and red brown undertail colouration provide an easy reference for the positive identification of this bird.

The diet of the hobby consists of larger flying insects and small birds such as swallows which is catches on the wing in its talons and will often consume whilst in flight.

Hobbies use abandoned nests of other birds in which to lay their eggs, commonly choosing old crows or magpie nests high in the tree tops. One clutch of 2 – 3 yellowy buff eggs with brown markings is laid between June to August and incubated mainly by the female for a month.

Hobbies are known for their incredible aerial agility. They are often seen chasing insects and small birds in mid-air. They frequently hunt in pairs, with one bird flushing prey while the other pursues.

During courtship, males perform spectacular sky-dancing displays, showcasing their speed and manoeuvrability.

The lifespan of the hobby is ten years maximum although usually a lot less.

While the Hobby is currently listed as Least Concern, it faces threats from habitat loss and agricultural intensification. Climate change may affect its prey availability and migration patterns. Conservation efforts focus on protecting breeding habitats and maintaining insect-rich environments.

Male and female hobbies look identical although the female is the slightly larger bird. Adults have pale creamy underparts with black streaks and long tapered wings, the underparts of which are cream in colour and marked with dark bars and spots, as is the undertail. A useful identification feature are the reddish brown coloured thighs and undertail coverts (the feathers that overlap the belly and tail) easily visible in flight or when the bird is perching on a branch or pole. They particularly stand out surrounded by the paler underparts. The upper parts and upperwing area are a plain slate grey. The head of the hobby is dark with a white chin, cheeks, throat and side of the neck which is split by a black moustache starting below the eye close to the top of the bill, passing in front of the cheek and behind the throat. Hobbies eyes are brown with a yellow eye ring and white eyebrow. The membrane covering the base of the upper mandible, otherwise known as the cere, is bright yellow with the rest of the hooked bill being black. The birds’ legs and feet are yellow with an orange hue and are prominent amongst the red brown coloured thighs. Juveniles have more brown colouration than the adults but lack the rufous colour under the tail.