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Birds and Butterflies of Rhodes
RODOPTERA
Falco subbuteo
Eurasian hobby (juvenile). Greek: δεvτρoγέρακo (ανήλικο). Kalathos, September 2022.
Breeding migrant, widespread in small numbers. March to October. Length 29-36 cm, wingspan 74-84 cm. Sexes similar. Adult slate-grey above with dark crown and two short moustaches, whitish underparts with black streaks, unstreaked orange thighs and vent. Juvenile with scaled brown back and streaked buff thighs and vent. Elegant bird with long swift-like wings. Open woodland, farmland with scattered trees. Hunts on the wing. Fast, agile flier with impressive aerobatics when hunting. Preys on wide variety of birds, notably swallows, martins, even swifts. Captures large insects, eats them in flight. Active at dawn and dusk. Uses old nests of crows and other birds. Was used in falconry to hunt quails, larks.
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