Eurasian Hobby
CR

Eurasian Hobby

Falco subbuteo

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_hobby

Overview

The Eurasian hobby, or just hobby, is a small, slim falcon. It belongs to a group of similar falcons often considered a subgenus Falco.

The Eurasian Hobby faces severe population declines due to widespread habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urbanization, which eliminates the open woodlands and parklands essential for breeding. Pesticide contamination significantly reduces prey availability and causes reproductive failures, while climate change disrupts migration patterns and breeding cycles. Conservation status may vary by region or assessment authority.

Threat summary

Habitat

Open woodlands, forest edges, parklands, and agricultural areas with scattered trees, typically near wetlands or water bodies that support abundant flying insects. Breeds in old crow or magpie nests in tall trees, requiring a mosaic of wooded and open habitats for hunting aerial prey.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Falconidae

Orange-breasted FalconEN

Orange-breasted Falcon

Falco deiroleucus

Unknown
Peregrine Falcon (eurasian)VU

Peregrine Falcon (eurasian)

Falco peregrinus

Unknown
Aplomado FalconVU

Aplomado Falcon

Falco femoralis

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Eurasian Hobby classified as Critically Endangered?
Eurasian Hobby is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Eurasian Hobby faces severe population declines due to widespread habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urbanization, which eliminates the open woodlands and parklands essential for breeding. Pesticide contamination significantly reduces prey availability and causes reproductive failures, while climate change disrupts migration patterns and breeding cycles. Conservation status may vary by region or assessment authority.
Where does Eurasian Hobby live?
Eurasian Hobby occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Eurasian Hobby?
The main threats to Eurasian Hobby are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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