THE HOBBY 



FALCO SUSBUTEO 



LOCAL names in surrounding counties : 



STATUS IN BRITISH AVIFAUNA : A rare and local summer 

 visitor to England ; seen on migration in Scotland and 

 Ireland. 



RADIAL DISTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 

 PAUL'S : Trie more or less regular appearance in spring 

 of the Hobby in localities within the Metropolitan radius 

 seems to suggest that in former years it bred in some 

 numbers in the extensive woods that surround London. 

 This pretty bird, a Peregrine in miniature, is seldom 

 allowed to rear a brood in the surrounding counties 

 nowadays, being shot or trapped and its nest pillaged at 

 every opportunity. It has, however, been known to have 

 bred successfully near London within the past twenty 

 years, and would probably do so regularly if protected. 

 As a casual visitor it is usually observed in April and May 

 or September and October, when on spring and autumn 

 migration. I have seen the Hobby in localities as far 

 apart as St. Mary Cray, Epping Forest, and Wembley 

 Park. 



Although the Hobby is a miniature Peregrine in appear- 

 ance its haunts are very different ones. It is essentially a 

 woodland bird, but otherwise somewhat closely resembles 

 its larger congener in its ways of life. In one respect, 

 however, it differs very considerably from the Peregrine. 

 It is a migrant, arriving late in April or early in May, 

 and taking up its abode for the summer in large woods 

 and plantations, from which it sallies in quest of food. 

 Being probably a life-paired bird, it returns usually to the 

 same haunts each year. It is quite as dashing and fear- 

 less in quest of prey as the Peregrine, but its quarry, of 

 course, is smaller, chiefly consisting of the lesser birds, 



H 



