Eurasian Hobby
Falco subbuteo
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderFalconiformes (Falcons and Caracaras)
- FamilyFalconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
- GenusFalco (Typical Falcons)
- SpeciesFalco subbuteo (Eurasian Hobby)
About the Eurasian Hobby
The Eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo), or just hobby, is a small, slim falcon. It belongs to a group of similar falcons often considered a subgenus of Falco. The first formal description of the Eurasian hobby was by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the present binomial name Falco subbuteo. The genus name falco derives from Late Latin falx, falcis, a sickle, referring to the wing profile of the bird. The species name subbuteo is from Latin sub, "below, less than, under" and buteo, "buzzard". The species' English name comes from Old French hobé or hobet. It became the trademark for the Subbuteo games company after its creator, who was an ornithologist, was refused permission to register "Hobby".
Two subspecies are recognized: F. s. subbuteo: the nominate race is resident in Africa, Europe and Central and East Asia, winters in Central and South Africa and South Asia F. s. streichi: described by Ernst Hartert and Oscar Neumann in 1907, is smaller and is a resident species from Myanmar to south China and north Indochina.
Adults are slate-grey above with a dark crown and two short... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Eurasian Hobby in Kruger National Park
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Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Eurasian Hobby in Kruger National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Eurasian Hobby sighting in Kruger National Park, based on 204 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Eurasian Hobby in Kruger National Park?
February has the highest sighting rate for Eurasian Hobby in Kruger National Park in our monthly data.