The Northern Hobby is a small, swift falcon that snatches dragonflies and even swallows in midair. It breeds across much of Europe and Asia and shows up in the United States only as a rare stray. It is also known as the Eurasian Hobby.
Appearance
- Appearance
- About 11–14 in (29–36 cm) long with a 29–33 in (74–84 cm) wingspan. Adults are slate gray above with a dark cap, a black mustache mark, streaked underparts, and rusty-red "pants" and undertail. Young birds are browner.
Look-alikes
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Woodland
- Open country
- Range
- Breeds across much of Europe and Asia; most birds winter in Africa and South Asia. In the US it is a rare vagrant, recorded in Alaska, Washington, and Massachusetts.
- Seasonal presence
- In its home range it is a long-distance migrant; in the US it shows up only as an accidental visitor.
Behavior
- Diet
- Large insects, especially dragonflies, plus small birds such as swallows and swifts, and small bats. It often eats dragonflies on the wing.
- Activity
- Long, pointed wings make it fast and agile in the air.
Life cycle
- Nest
- Uses old nests of crows and rooks rather than building its own.
- Clutch size
- 2–3 eggs
- Incubation
- About 28 days, mostly by the female
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- The tabletop soccer game Subbuteo took its name from this falcon's scientific name, because its inventor, a bird enthusiast, was refused permission to register "Hobby" as a trademark.
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