Falco longipennis
Silhouette: Shyamal · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
The Australian hobby (Falco longipennis), also known as the little falcon, is one of six Australian members of the family Falconidae. This predominantly diurnal bird of prey derives its name 'longipennis' from its long primary wing feathers. It occurs throughout Australia and other neighbouring countries with migrating individuals found on the islands of Indonesia and New Guinea.
The Australian hobby is a member of the family Falconidae and the order Falconiformes. Five major clades have been established in the genus Falco. These include kestrels, merlins, hobbies, hierofalcons and peregrines. Hobbies are somewhat removed from these groups but are still a component of a more inclusive clade.
Three subspecies of Australian hobby are usually recognised. These are: Falco longipennis longipennis, (Swainson, 1838) Falco longipennis murchisonianus (Mathews, 1912) is paler blue-grey above with a dull blackish head, and paler reddish-brown below with less distinct markings.
Of the hobbies in existence including the African hobby (Falco cuvierii) and the Oriental hobby... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilsons Promontory National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Ningaloo Marine Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Kosciuszko National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Cape Range | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Kakadu National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 8 | Hattah-Kulkyne National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Flinders Ranges National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 10 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 11 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 12 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 13 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alice Springs Desert Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Raptor Refuge | 🇦🇺 Australia |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report an Australian Hobby sighting in Ningaloo Marine Park on a given day, based on 28 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 70th most-seen of the 102 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report an Australian Hobby in Ningaloo Marine Park on a given day, against under 5% in May, July and October–January, the lowest months.
Between 2 and 5 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Australian Hobby sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 13 parks where we can rate Australian Hobby sightings, Ningaloo Marine Park ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Wilsons Promontory National Park (Australia, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Australian Hobby is recorded against all the birds logged in Ningaloo Marine Park (28 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
