Eurasian Hobby
At a Glance
             A compact, fast-flying falcon, widespread in the Old World, the Eurasian Hobby has appeared in North America several times as a rare stray. Most records have been in Alaska, on the Aleutians and other islands and once on the mainland; it has also wandered to other parts of the continent, including the northwest (south to Washington) and the northeast (south to Massachusetts). Some of the Alaskan records have involved birds coming on board ships far out at sea. The Hobby is similar in behavior to our Merlin, often catching dragonflies or small birds in flight. 
          
          
             All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from  by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. 
          
        
        Category      
      
        Hawk-like Birds
      
    
        IUCN Status      
      
        Least Concern
      
    
        Habitat      
      
        Coasts and Shorelines, Fields, Meadows, and Grasslands, Forests and Woodlands
      
    
        Behavior      
      
        Direct Flight, Flap/Glide, Soaring
      
    Range & Identification
Description
     11-14" (28-36 cm). A compact falcon with relatively short tail. Adult gray above, heavily streaked below, with rufous on thighs and undertail coverts. Juvenile has similar pattern but is browner, and lacks rufous at first. 
  
  
        Size      
      
        About the size of a Crow, About the size of a Robin
      
    
        Wing Shape      
      
        Pointed, Swept, Tapered
      
    
        Tail Shape      
      
        Rounded, Square-tipped
      
    Songs and Calls
     Shrill scream keer-keer-keer 
  
  
Habitat
     In its native habitat, open wooded areas, woodland edges and fields. Prefers semi-open areas with sufficient trees or shrubs for perching. In North America, most often seen near coasts in summer. 
  
  
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