Hobby Falco subbuteo   [Linnaeus, 1758]

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   Page updated:16-January-2013

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: (Details)
Links to: Images   Videos   Sound  
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'.  

Population and Distribution

Population Trend: BirdTrends   
Regional Trends: England   English Regions
Distribution: No distribution maps available
British Population Size:
    Summer: 2200 pairs in 2000     Note: Best estimate
    First Record: Recorded in Medieval times [Fossil evidence from
    Latest Survey: Clements, R. (2001) British Birds 94:402-408
    Conservation Status: GREEN
   Previous Assessments: 2002-2007 GREEN     1996-2001 GREEN  
   Races of Concern: subbuteo GREEN
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
    No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
    Summer: 41 to 60 thousand pairs
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe mapped by the EBCC Atlas
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of: WCA(I,IV), Bern(III), Bonn(II), CITES(II)
Survey Results: Results from BirdTrack

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 - 31.5) N = 182   by the: Female (occ. Male)
Fledging: 30 - 34days 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
See trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed: Annual Totals
Adult Survival: 0.745       
Juvenile Survival: 0.470 (in First-Year)  
Age at First Breeding: 2 years Typical Lifespan: 5 years
Maximum Recorded Age: 14 years 10 months 19 days (set in 2007)
Read a summary of Ringing Recoveries

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
Seasonal: Summer 202.9 ± 34.36 (N = 24)   Autumn 205.0 ± 26.82 (N = 31)  

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:
Find scientific papers on Google Scholar or Scirus by clicking the icon
Wikipedia entry
BirdLife species page
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides
Read State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead