Hobby Falco subbuteo

Dark falcon often seen hunting insects and birds over water

Habitat: heaths, fields and hedges

Uncommon summer visitor, wintering in southern and central Africa

Dark upperparts pale streaked below, distinctive red trousers; dark head with white collar

Hawks for insects over water causing panic amongst swallows and martins

Eats small birds such as young swallows and large insects such as dragonflies

Nest is a old nest of crow or magpie in a tree

1 brood May – June; 2-3 yellowish eggs speckled reddish