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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
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Status in UK: (A)  Migrant Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies: subbuteo recorded in Britain (of 2 subsp. in the world)
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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'  
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Population and Distribution
Population Trend: Wider Countryside Report
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)
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of: WCA(I,IV), Bern(III), Bonn(II), CITES(II)
Survey Results: BirdTrack
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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)
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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
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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
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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:
Wikipedia entry
State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides.com
Selected scientific papers published 1980-2005
Find more papers on Google Scholar
Find more papers on Scirus

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BirdWeb logo, click to go to BirdWeb BirdFacts home | BTO Home
Email: birdfacts@bto.org

These data should be cited as:
Robinson, R.A. (2005) BirdFacts: profiles of birds occurring in Britain & Ireland (v1.22, Oct 2008). BTO Research Report 407, BTO, Thetford (http://www.bto.org/birdfacts)

 

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