African Hobby

African Hobby

Falco cuvierii

Silhouette: Shyamal · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Serengeti National Park
12 Verified sightings at Serengeti National Park From 2019 to 2026
300 Verified sightings across all 27 parks From 2019 to 2026
January Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the African Hobby

The African hobby (Falco cuvierii) is a small species of bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A small, slim falcon with blackish upperparts and deep rufous underparts with rufous cheek, nape and throat. At close range black streaks can be seen on the throat and flanks. The facial skin and feet are yellow. Juvenile birds are browner above with heavier streaking on the underparts and paler on cheek, nape and throat. Their length is 20 centimetres (7.9 in) and wing span 70 centimetres (28 in).

They are mostly found in the edge of moist woodlands and forests, commonest in palm savannah and gallery forest in west and western regions of East Africa. They are less common in central Africa and north-eastern Africa.

Hunts on the wing, mainly at dawn and dusk. When not breeding the African hobby is thought to feed almost entirely on flying insects: termite alates, grasshoppers, locusts, beetles and cicadas have all been recorded. Feeding concentrations of up to 30 birds have been recorded when termite alates or locusts are swarming. When breeding a high proportion of small birds such as weavers, estrildid finches and swallows up to the... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Serengeti National Park

Grey Kestrel
LC

Grey Kestrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco ardosiaceus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Lesser Kestrel
LC

Lesser Kestrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco naumanni

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Greater Kestrel
LC

Greater Kestrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco rupicoloides

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Common Kestrel
LC

Common Kestrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco tinnunculus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Eurasian Hobby
LC

Eurasian Hobby

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco subbuteo

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Lanner Falcon
LC

Lanner Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco biarmicus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Amur Falcon
LC

Amur Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco amurensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Red-necked Falcon
NT

Red-necked Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco chicquera

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Peregrine Falcon
LC

Peregrine Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco peregrinus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Sooty Falcon
VU

Sooty Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco concolor

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Eleonora's Falcon
LC

Eleonora's Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco eleonorae

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
African Pygmy Falcon
LC

African Pygmy Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Polihierax semitorquatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
<5%
2 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
3 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
4 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
5 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
6 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
7 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
8 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
9 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
10 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
11 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
12 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
13 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
14 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
15 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
16 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
17 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
18 Bale Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Insufficient data
19 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
20 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
21 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
22 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
23 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
24 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
25 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
26 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
27 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a African Hobby in Serengeti National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a African Hobby sighting in Serengeti National Park, based on 12 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see African Hobby in Serengeti National Park?

January has the highest sighting rate for African Hobby in Serengeti National Park in our monthly data.

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