Австралийский хобби (Falco longipennis): описание и поведение

Species of bird

The Australian hobby (Falco longipennis), also known as the little falcon, is one of six Australian members of the family Falconidae. This predominantly diurnal bird of prey derives its name ‘longipennis’ from its long primary wing feathers. It occurs throughout Australia and other neighbouring countries with migrating individuals found on the islands of Indonesia and New Guinea.

Smaller than other falcons, the Australian hobby is relatively slender and long winged. Its plumage varies in colour depending on sex, age and environment with a darker form in humid areas and a lighter form in drier environments. however their range is restricted in Tasmania. Hobbies frequent most open habitats including open woodland, water courses and vegetated urban areas but are rarely recorded around cliffs or escarpments. and insects including beetles, cicadas, crickets and grasshoppers also form part of the hobby's diet.

The hobby is a solitary and aggressive falcon using rapid flickering wing beats, with tail fanned when hovering.

The hobby is a widespread and common hunter that often hunts at dusk, diurnally and sometimes nocturnally by artificial light. Hobbies have been known to harass larger birds but are not capable of killing them. Observations of hobbies during breeding identified that two main calls were used by adults. One was a rapid peevish chatter Kee Kee Kee Kee Kee which was given by the male as he brought prey to the nest area and was given by both sexes in alarm, when mobbing other predatory birds and when selecting and defending the nest. The second call resembled a squeaky chittering and ticking which appears to be used in a social dominance and food possession or food begging context. Juveniles were observed calling in an unslurred chittering whine when begging for food and in a chattering kee kee kee when alarmed, or excited, from the feathering stage. Hobbies are susceptible to the columbid herpesvirus 1 (CoHV 1) infection which causes death by massive splenic and hepatic necrosis. The cause of infection is often attributed to the consumption of rock pigeons (Columbia livia) which carry the disease.