Oriental Hobby

Falco severus

Oriental Hobby (Falco severus) — Birds of Prey of South & Southeast Asia.

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Found across 7 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

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Birds of Indonesia Birds of India Birds of the Philippines Birds of Thailand

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Falcons of Indonesia Falcons of India Falcons of Thailand

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The Oriental Hobby (Falco severus) is a member of the Falconidae family found in Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 201 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Falconiformes
Family Falconidae Caracaras, Falcons
Genus Falco
Species severus

Where it lives

Himalayas of northwestern India to eastern China, southeastern Asia, Philippines, Java and Bali, Sulawesi region to New Guinea and some satellites, Bismarck Arch. and Solomon Is.

Quick facts

Weight: 201 g
Diet: Vertebrate hunters
Family: Falconidae
Order: Falconiformes
Habitat: Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Vulnerable

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Oriental Hobby preys mainly on other vertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of open forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.

Migration

The Oriental Hobby is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Oriental Hobby (Falco severus) belongs to the Falconidae family of the order Falconiformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR, AU Himalayas of nw India to e China, se Asia, Philippines, Java and Bali, Sulawesi region to New Guinea and some satellites, Bismarck Arch. and Solomon Is.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 201 g, with a wing length of about 21.7 cm and a tail of around 9.7 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3.6 million km².

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Oriental Hobby?

The Oriental Hobby is a large bird that weighs around 201 g.

Where does the Oriental Hobby live?

The Oriental Hobby is found across Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR, AU Himalayas of nw India to e China, se Asia, Philippines, Java and Bali, Sulawesi region to New Guinea and some satellites, Bismarck Arch. and Solomon Is, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Oriental Hobby belong to?

The Oriental Hobby (Falco severus) belongs to the Falconidae family, in the order Falconiformes.

What does the Oriental Hobby eat?

The Oriental Hobby preys mainly on other vertebrates.

Does the Oriental Hobby migrate?

The Oriental Hobby is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Oriental Hobby endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

How large is the Oriental Hobby's range?

The Oriental Hobby has a mapped global range of about 3.6 million km².