Eurasian Hobby
Falco subbuteo

– medium-sized falcon, body like Common Kestrel but longer wings
– diurnal migrant
– migrates singly


Eurasian Hobby Falco s. subbuteo, 1CY
BIF1659, 10/08/2013, Prignitz, Germany, Mathias Putze
– black streaking of the body much stronger than in Red-footed Falcon or Amur Falcon
– underwing pattern relatively uniform (contrasting brown underwing coverts in 1CY Red-footed Falcon, contrasting darker underwing coverts in 1CY Eleonora’s Falcon)
– dark trailing edge to the wing rather narrow


Eurasian Hobby Falco s. subbuteo, 2CY
BIF3498, 23/05/2021, Chiemsee, Germany, Mathias Putze


Eurasian Hobby Falco s. subbuteo, 2CY
BIF3499, 23/05/2021, Chiemsee, Germany, Mathias Putze


Eurasian Hobby Falco s. subbuteo, 2CY
BIF3500, 23/05/2021, Chiemsee, Germany, Mathias Putze


Eurasian Hobby Falco s. subbuteo, 2CY
BIF3501, 23/05/2021, Chiemsee, Germany, Mathias Putze


Eurasian Hobby Falco s. subbuteo, 2CY
BIF3502, 23/05/2021, Chiemsee, Germany, Mathias Putze


Eurasian Hobby Falco s. subbuteo, AD
BIF1655, 10/08/2013, Prignitz, Germany, Mathias Putze
– long-winged falcon with shorter tail than Common Kestrel, much more elegant than Peregrine Falcon
– underwing coverts of AD with whitish base-colour slightly contrasting to buffish remiges


Eurasian Hobby Falco s. subbuteo, AD
BIF1656, 01/06/2014, Jüterbog, Germany, Mathias Putze


Eurasian Hobby Falco s. subbuteo, AD
BIF1657, 30/07/2010, Kiskunsági, Hungary, Mathias Putze
– rusty red vent and thighs


Eurasian Hobby Falco s. subbuteo, AD
BIF3278, 20/05/2020, Ludwigslust, Germany, Roland Neumann
– upperside uniform slaty and thus very similar to Eleonora’s Falcon but note shorter tail and wings


Eurasian Hobby Falco s. subbuteo, AD
BIF1658, 05/07/2013, Prignitz, Germany, Mathias Putze
– typical silhouette with long and slender wings and fairly short tail


Eurasian Hobby Falco s. subbuteo, AD
BIF1660, 10/08/2013, Prignitz, Germany, Mathias Putze


Eurasian Hobby Falco s. subbuteo, AD
BIF1661, 10/08/2013, Prignitz, Germany, Mathias Putze


Eurasian Hobby Falco s. subbuteo, AD
BIF1662, 20/04/2011, Leipzig, Germany, Mathias Putze
– at great distance similar silhouette to light morph Eleonora’s Falcon but lacks the dark underwing coverts

voice: usually nonvocal during migration

comparison species:
Red-footed Falcon (v)
Amur Falcon (v)
Eleonora’s Falcon (v)
Common Kestrel (v)
Peregrine Falcon (v)

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