Hobby
The Eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo) is a small falcon. It is a very bold and courageous bird and was used in falconry, trained to hawk birds like quails, larks, hoopoes, drongos, etc.
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CrepuscularCrepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight (that is, the periods of dawn and dusk). This is distinguished from diurnal...
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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CongregatoryCongregatory animals tend to gather in large numbers in specific areas as breeding colonies, for feeding, or for resting.
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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Soaring birdsSoaring birds can maintain flight without wing flapping, using rising air currents. Many gliding birds are able to "lock" their extended wings by m...
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GlidingGliding flight is heavier-than-air flight without the use of thrust and is employed by gliding animals. Birds in particular use gliding flight to m...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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Pursuit predatorPursuit predation is a form of predation in which predators actively give chase to their prey, either solitarily or as a group. Pursuit predators r...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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MigratingAnimal migration is the relatively long-distance movement of individual animals, usually on a seasonal basis. It is the most common form of migrati...
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starts withAdults of this species are slate-grey above with a dark crown and two short black moustachial stripes. The throat is unstreaked white, thighs and undertail coverts are unstreaked rufous and the rest of the underparts are whitish with black streaks. Close views enable the red "trousers" and vent to be seen. The males and the females have a similar appearance. Juveniles are generally much browner, with scaled upper parts and streaked buffy thighs and undertail coverts.
Eurasian hobbies breed across the Palearctic realm and winter in Africa and Asia. These birds inhabit farmlands, marshes, taiga, and savannas. They are widespread in lowlands with scattered small woods and can also be found in mountainous areas.
Eurasian hobbies can be seen singly, in pairs, or in family groups, while on migration, they may move in small groups. They are elegant birds of prey, appearing sickle-like in flight with their long pointed wings and square tail, often resembling a swift when gliding with folded wings. Eurasian hobbies are fast and powerful in flight and attack their prey by surprise. Large insects they transfer from talons to beaks and eat while soaring slowly in circles. Their speed and aerobatic skills enable hobbies to take swallows and even swifts on the wing. They may harass swallows while they are roosting and dispersing from roosts. When not breeding, Eurasian hobbies are crepuscular, hawking principally in the mornings and evenings.
Eurasian hobbies are carnivores. They feed on large insects, such as dragonflies, and also capture small bats[ and small birds in flight.
Eurasian hobbies are monogamous and solitary nesters. With the start of the breeding season, both partners perform spectacular aerial displays. Hobbies nest in old nests of crows and other birds. The tree selected is most often one in a hedge or on the extreme edge of a spinney, from where the bird can observe intruders from a considerable distance. The female lays 2-4 eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs for about 24-28 days, though the female does the greater part. The chicks are ready to leave the nest when they are 28-34 days old but will depend on their parents for 5 weeks more.
Eurasian hobbies suffer from habitat loss, shooting, human disturbance, pesticide use, and wind energy development.
According to IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Eurasian hobby is 900,000-1,500,000 mature individuals. The European population consists of 140,000-219,000 pairs, which equates to 280,000-437,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...