Daily travel schedules of adult Eurasian Hobbies Falco subbuteo - variability in flight hours and migration speed along the route.

The article discusses the migration schedules of adult Eurasian Hobbies Falco subbuteo moving between northern Europe and southern Africa. To record travel time and speed in Europe, the Sahara and Africa, four adult Hobbies in southern Sweden were fitted with transmitters which were light enough not to affect flight behavior. Results showed differences in both duration and speed in the three regions. While nocturnal flights over denuded forests were recorded, Hobbies were mostly diurnal travelers. Hobbies are not thermal dependent and are able to extend flight outside of the thermal time window. Unlike many migrants who are also not dependent on thermal soaring, Hobbies travel throughout the afternoon.