Eurasian Hobby

Overview
Eurasian Hobby: Small falcon with dark slate-gray upperparts and white underparts with heavy, dark gray streaks. White face has bold black mask and moustache stripe, and thin white eyebrows. Wings are long and pointed. Leggings are orange. Tail is square and finely barred. Graceful powerful flight.

Range and Habitat
Eurasian Hobby: Breeds across Europe and Asia; strays occur in Alaska. Preferred habitats include mature trees in farmlands and woodland edges.

INTERESTING FACTS
The Eurasian Hobby is one of the least studied European raptors because it is hard to detect during breeding season, which makes finding their nests almost impossible. A range of board games was once going to be named "Hobby", but the inventor was refused permission by the Patent Office. The inventor, who was also a birdwatcher, instead used the scientific name of the Hobby and called the board game Subbuteo. Barn Swallows and House Martins have a characteristic "hobby" alarm call. A group of falcons has many collective nouns, including a "bazaar", "eyrie", "ringing up", "stooping up", and "tower" of falcons.