Hobby Falco subbuteo W 70-85cm. Elegant falcon. Aerial mastery allows it to catch agile prey including Swifts, hirundines, and even dragonflies. In silhouette, has proportionately longer and narrower wings than Peregrine, and longer tail. Generally unobtrusive. Sexes are similar. Adult has blue-grey upperparts and pale, dark-streaked underparts. Has dark 'moustache', white cheeks and reddish orange 'trousers'. Juvenile is similar to adult but lacks reddish 'trousers' and underparts look buffish overall. Voice Utters a shrill kiu-kiu-kiu…in alarm. Status Scarce summer visitor; breeds mainly in S and SE England. Favours heathland and farmland with scattered woods. are favoured; on migration, a Hobby could turn up almost anywhere. Between 500 and 1,000 pairs are probably present in the region in the summer months.
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