173. Hobby (Falco subbuteo)

Hobbies are slim, medium-sized falcons, very graceful and aerobatic in flight when sometimes their long pointed wings can make them look like giant Swifts. However actual Swifts had better beware because Hobbies are experts at catching insects and birds on the wing! They breed throughout most of Europe except northern Scandinavia and the north of the UK, spending their winters in Africa. Males and females look pretty similar, with super-smart slatey blue backs, strongly streaked breasts, a big moustache, white throat and red trousers! Juveniles look similar but are much browner and lack the red trousers. Hobbies breed in a variety of habitats, generally all with some trees for nesting, such as heathland, marshes, bogs, reedbeds, farmland and meadows.

Hobby, ©suneko, via Flickr Creative Commons.

Hobby painting.

Ran out of time/patience a bit towards the end (wings!) but I quite like it.