Falco subbuteo - Hobby
Feather characters. Barbules are long (1.7-2.0 mm) and divided into pigmented nodes and partly pigmented (less than 50%) internodes. Slightly thickened nodes (12-14 per mm) are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules, only slightly decreasing in size towards distal end. Villi are absent and internodes are occasionally kinked. Minute prongs are present on distal end of barbules and on both sides of the pennulum.
Field characters. Length 28-35 cm; wingspan 70-84 cm. Weight: male 204 g (200-208), female 276 g (245-325) (Dunning, 1993). Resembles miniature Peregrine Falcon with narrow wings, but adult recognisable by rusty-red thighs and under tail-coverts, smaller and more pointed moustachial stripe, and white underparts with black streaks. Juvenile with black-brown upperparts, with underparts more buff and more heavily streaked, and without red on thighs and under the tail. Peregrine-like flight, but wings look longer and tail shorter (reminds of large Swift). Hunts on swallows, larks, etc, and particularly in the evening on flying insects. Nests usually in abandoned nest of Carrion Crow.
Voice. A clear repeated "kew-kew-kew-kew", very variable both in form and timbre.
Distribution. Fairly common summer visitor. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. In the breeding season it frequents downlands, heaths, open woodland, parks, agricultural country, etc.
Food. Hunts by chasing flying insects and birds, seizing prey with feet. Insects are held in feet and are eaten during flight, but birds plucked and eaten at perch. Feeds on high-flying insects such as moths, ants, beetles and on birds such as swifts, martins, swallows, larks.