General

Eurasian Hobby: Small falcon with dark slate-gray upperparts and white underparts with heavy, dark gray streaks. White face has bold black mask and moustache stripe, and thin white eyebrows. Wings are long and pointed. Leggings are orange. Tail is square and finely barred. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has dark brown upperparts finely edged with brown, heavily streaked underparts, and lacks orange leggings.

Range and Habitat

Eurasian Hobby: Breeds across Europe and Asia; strays occur in Alaska. Preferred habitats include mature trees in farmlands and woodland edges.

Breeding and Nesting

Eurasian Hobby: Three to five light yellow brown eggs with red brown spots are laid in an old crow or hawk nest. Incubation ranges from 28 to 31 days and is carried out primarily by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Eurasian Hobby: Feeds on large insects and small birds such as swallows and martins. Prey is caught in talons and transferred to bill in flight.

Vocalization

Eurasian Hobby: Makes a loud "klee-klee-klee."

Similar Species

Eurasian Hobby: Peregrine Falcon is much larger, and lacks eyestripe and orange leggings.