A hobby is a fairly small, very swift
falcon with long, narrow wings. There are four birds called "hobby", and some others which, although termed "falcon", are very similar. All specialise in being superb aerialists. Although they take prey on the ground if the opportunity presents itself, most prey is caught on the wing; insects are often caught by
hawking, and many different birds are caught in flight, where even the quick maneuvering
swifts and
swallows
The swallows, martins, and saw-wings, or Hirundinidae, are a family of passerine songbirds found around the world on all continents, including occasionally in Antarctica. Highly adapted to aerial feeding, they have a distinctive appearance. The ...
cannot escape a hobby.
The typical hobbies are traditionally considered a
subgenus
In biology, a subgenus (plural: subgenera) is a taxonomic rank directly below genus.
In the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between t ...
, ''Hypotriorchis'', due to their similar
morphology; they have ample amounts of dark slaty grey in their plumage; the
malar area is black; and the underside usually has lengthwise black streaks. The tails are all-dark or have only slight bands.
Monophyly of ''Hypotriorchis'' is supported by
DNA sequence
DNA sequencing is the process of determining the nucleic acid sequence – the order of nucleotides in DNA. It includes any method or technology that is used to determine the order of the four bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine. Th ...
data, though the exact limits of the group are still uncertain. The hobbies seem to be one of the ''Falco'' lineages which emerged around the
Miocene-
Pliocene boundary some 8-5 million years ago and subsequently
radiated - in this case throughout the
Old World
The "Old World" is a term for Afro-Eurasia that originated in Europe , after Europeans became aware of the existence of the Americas. It is used to contrast the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia, which were previously thought of by the ...
. Their relationship to the
peregrine falcon
The peregrine falcon (''Falco peregrinus''), also known as the peregrine, and historically as the duck hawk in North America, is a Cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan bird of prey (Bird of prey, raptor) in the family (biology), family Falco ...
group and the
kestrels is not well resolved, however;
taxa such as the
red-footed falcon
The red-footed falcon (''Falco vespertinus''), formerly the western red-footed falcon, is a bird of prey. It belongs to the family Falconidae, the falcons. This bird is found in eastern Europe and Asia although its numbers are dwindling rapidly ...
appear in some respects intermediate between the kestrels and the typical hobbies.
[Nittinger, F.; Haring, E.; Pinsker, W.; Wink, Michael & Gamauf, A. (2005): Out of Africa? Phylogenetic relationships between ''Falco biarmicus'' and other hierofalcons (Aves Falconidae). ''Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research'' 43(4): 321-331.]
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Eurasian hobby (''F. subbuteo''), also known as the northern hobby
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African hobby (''F. cuvierii'')
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Oriental hobby (''F. severus'')
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Australian hobby or little falcon (''F. longipennis''), uncommon but widespread in
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
, during the southern winter, some birds
migrate
Migration, migratory, or migrate may refer to: Human migration
* Human migration, physical movement by humans from one region to another
** International migration, when peoples cross state boundaries and stay in the host state for some minimum le ...
to the north of the continent or to the islands of
Southeast Asia
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Sooty falcon (''F. concolor'') of the North African desert
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Eleonora's falcon (''F. eleonorae'') occupies the
Mediterranean area during the northern summer, and
migrates south to
Madagascar for the southern summer.
These species are tentatively placed here:
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New Zealand falcon or ''karearea ''(''F. novaeseelandiae'').
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Brown falcon
The brown falcon (''Falco berigora'') is a relatively large falcon native to Australia and New Guinea.
A number of plumage morphs occur, with the primary distinction being between the pale morph and the dark morph. Both morphs usually have dark ...
(''F. berigora'')
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Taita falcon (''F. fasciinucha'')
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1132015
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Falcons
de:Baumfalke
fr:Falco subbuteo