What is Oriental hobby

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The Oriental hobby (Falco severus) is a species of falcon typically 27–30 cm long. It can be found in the northern parts of the Indian Subcontinent, across the eastern Himalayas and ranges southwards through Indochina to Australasia.

What does Oriental hobby look like

The oriental hobby is a small raptor, similar in size to the Eurasian hobby, with a length of 27-30 cm and a weight of 180-250 g. The top of the head, sides of the head, occiput, nape and upper back are black, gradually turning dark slate gray or light gray to the lower back, waist, wing coverts, upper tail coverts and tail feathers. With black rachis; the central tail feathers are gray with black fuzzy horizontal spots, the old bird has only one black subterminal spot, and the outer tail feathers have prominent black or cinnamon bark yellow horizontal spots; the primary flight feathers and secondary flight feathers Feathers are black, with reddish-brown or light gray-brown horizontal spots and spots on the inner feathers, and the inner secondary flight feathers are the same color as the back. Slightly stained with light brown, the rest of the underparts are dark chestnut red, the chest is slightly black with feathers, and the underwing coverts and axillary feathers are dark chestnut.

Juveniles are generally similar to adults, but the upper body is darker, and the lower body has thick black feathers from the breast to the tail.

The iris is dark brown, the mouth is light blue-gray, the apex is black, the tarsus and toes are yellow, and the claws are black.

Oriental hobby habitat

Inhabits low hills and foot plains with sparse forests or small patches of jungle, but rarely in dense forests. Altitude at sea level to 2600 meters.

What does Oriental hobby eat

It mainly feeds on Coleoptera insects, birds and bats, and also eats mice and lizards. It mainly flies in the air while chasing prey, and after catching it, it takes it directly to the tree to peck. Predation activities are mainly in the early morning and dusk, and rest more during the hot weather at noon during the day. They are often active alone or in pairs, especially in the early morning and evening.

Distribution area of Oriental hobby

Mainly distributed in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Thailand and Vietnam.

Mode of reproduction

The breeding season is from April to June. They usually use the old nests of crows and other birds on tall trees on the edge of steep cliffs, and occasionally build their own nests on the rocks of cliffs, but the nests are extremely simple and rough. Each clutch lays 3-4 eggs. The eggs are hatched by the parents in turn, and the incubation period is 25 days.