For details point at or click the
Hobby Falco subbuteo [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Accipitriformes
Family:
Falconidae
BTO Codes:
HY , HOBBY
EURING No:
3100
Number in Britain:
2200 pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
GREEN
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
View video clips from
IBC
Status in UK:
(A) Migrant Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies:
subbuteo recorded in Britain (of 2 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
33 cm
Wingspan:
87 cm
Weight:
M: 180 g F: 240 g
Scientific name from:
L.: falco =falcom (from falcis =sickle, ref hooked talons)
and L.: sub -=under + buteo =a hawk
World Distribution:
BREEDS: Eurasia, WINTERS s Eurasia, Africa
Habitat:
Open forest, steppe, farmland
Diet:
Small birds and large insects taken in flight
TitBit:
Known to millions through the table football game, "Subbuteo" got its name because the Hobby was designer Peter Adolph's favourite bird, it means 'smaller than a buzzard'
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
No regional trends available
Distribution:
No distribution maps available
British Population Size:
Summer:
2200 pairs
in 2000
First Record:
12th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Latest Survey:
Clements, R. (2001) British Birds 94:402-408
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
Summer:
41 to 60 thousand pairs
(Trend in Numbers )
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WCA(I,IV), Bern(III), Bonn(II), CITES(II)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
42 x 33 mm
Egg Weight:
24.0 g (of which 8 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
38
(more would be welcome!)
Clutch Size:
2 - 3 eggs
2.74 ± 0.73 (1 - 4) N = 185
Incubation:
29 days
28.77 ± 1.34 (27 - 32) N = 182
by the:
Female (occ. Male)
Fledging:
30 - 34 days
31.65 ± 3.05 (27 - 37) N = 464
as:
Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
12 Jun (29 May - 2 Jul)
Number of Broods:
1
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
72
Adult Survival:
No data
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
2
years
Typical Lifespan:
No data
Maximum Recorded Age:
11yr11m
(Germany: 14yr 1m)
Biometrics
Ring Size:
E
Wing Length
Adult:
Insufficient Data.
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data.
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Weight
Adult:
Insufficient Data.
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data.
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Other Names
Eurasian Hobby
Gaelic:
Gormag
Welsh:
Hebog yr Ehedydd
Danish:
Lærkefalk
Dutch:
Boomvalk
Finnish:
Nuolihaukka
French:
Faucon hobereau
German:
Baumfalke
Hungarian:
Kabasólyom
Icelandic:
Gunnfálki
Irish:
Fabhcún Coille
Italian:
Lodolaio
Norwegian:
Lerkefalk
Polish:
Kobuz
Portuguese:
Ógea
Spanish:
Alcotán
Swedish:
Lärkfalk
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Chapman, A. 1999 The hobby Arlequin Press, Chelmsford
[598.53 CHA]
Sergio, F. et al. 2001 BWP Update 3:133-156
See Also:
BirdFacts home | BTO Home birdfacts@bto.org These data should be cited as:
© British Trust for Ornithology, | Privacy Statement
button; for sources point at the 
button
Other Names
