My hats off to the camera man for being able to keep these two in the frame as much as he did. The hobby set himself out for a job but has the stuff. I assume that the last part was a hand off to his mate.
The 3-minute pursuit was by just the male Hobby - the female only flew over there at the last moment. The fact that the lone Hobby bothered with a long chase (and several times nearly caught the Swift) suggests that this particular Hobby, at least, is capable of "outflying" Swifts. The Hobby also appears to have the stamina to wear the Swift down. Hobbies are much faster than Swifts, but the smaller and lighter Swift can avoid most attempts at grabbing by deft manoeuvres.
In the areas I film them there tends to be a Hobby nest every few miles, suggesting they might not hunt beyond a mile or so. However, I once watched a nesting Hobby circle and climb until he disappeared from binocular view vertically overhead in a clear sky - my estimate was at well over two miles above me! How far he was going I can only guess, but it shows what capabilities they have.
Good video. I've filmed many attacks by Peregrines and they are difficult to film. Your video illustrates just how effective of a hunter most falcons really are.
Truly a great video. I have many birds in my backyard in Ontario due to all the bird seed I put out. I seem to have attracted a falcon myself which preys on all the other birds I've attracted leaving me with a feathery bloody mess of many a carcass...but it's survival of the fittest I guess. Thank You
I wonder if the other falcon was helping keep the swift off balance or in range ? You would think the swift could just dive then dart along the ground but didn't.
There were countless times when the falcon gained on the swift, but the swift, though slower, just banked out the way to avoid capture. I believe this high energy falcon could simply just "hyena" the poor swift to death rather than just use raw agility to out maneuver it.
wooOOW that unbelievable first time i see falcon catch swift .but i think if the falcon was alone with out recovery by the female its will not ever will catch the swift . absloutly amazing video we need more but with throat white needle or white ramp swift . thank you for uploading
Posted by NADINE Staufenbiel: "Only if the swift is weak.I have seen swifts run rings around the hobby many times." In a study in the Po Valley in Italy, 53% (!!) of all birds caught were Common Swifts [Mebs & Schmidt 2006]. Do you believe that all of these swifts were weak? When hunting, the hobby is significantly faster than the swift in level flight.
+Bk Jeong Hobbies are very aerial birds - so are swifts, sparrows not so much. They spend much more time on the ground closer to humans, and are not a very natural prey for a hobby. I'm sure they catch a few though. But except for the breeding season they mostly catch big insects, like dragonflies.
I would guess there catching migrating Swift's which would not be in the best condition. Also when both hawks join in the Swift's chances are quite low...
It looked to me like the captured swift was transferred from one falcon to another at 6:27, with an earlier unsuccessful transfer attempt a few seconds earlier. Is this correct?
I read somewhere that they hunt far from the nest, I only know of one area near by can definately see Hobbies. I know people like to keep details secret but can you give me a vague clue to what area you are in?
Wind tunnel experiments prove that the Merlin can fly at a speed of 35 m/s(126 km/h) in a sustained level flight (so can the Eleonoras falcon), so it's not unlikely that a Hobby may reach a maximum speed of 150 km/h in flapping level flight. This is significantly faster than a Swift, which frequently falls pray to the Hobby.
The film was taken on a 10th August, so it could be adult or juvenile Swift. I cannot prove that Hobbies are much faster than Swifts, any more than Mr Fiuczynski can prove the generality of his quoted speeds. I can only report my observation over many years that Hobbies appear to be markedly the fastest bird in level flight in UK skies. The lightness of the Swift should certainly tilt things more in its favour when climbing or manoeuvering versus a Hobby.
Much, much faster. No matter what the noobs post on internet, I watch my pairs for years. I know what I saw. One of my pairs is near factory where they hunt 90% only swifts from the day they return from migration.
I don't believe this was a chimney swift. A chimney swift couldn't have that much meat on his bones to be the target of a falcon. I have a chimney swift tower at my home, and if they can catch them, they are great predators!
It's not a chimney swift, it's a common swift which is about the same size a s a purple martain. This is in Europe. Chimney swifts are from the united states and south america. And Mississippi kites regularly prey on chimney swifts the same way this hobby did.
My hats off to the camera man for being able to keep these two in the frame as much as he did. The hobby set himself out for a job but has the stuff. I assume that the last part was a hand off to his mate.
The 3-minute pursuit was by just the male Hobby - the female only flew over there at the last moment. The fact that the lone Hobby bothered with a long chase (and several times nearly caught the Swift) suggests that this particular Hobby, at least, is capable of "outflying" Swifts.
The Hobby also appears to have the stamina to wear the Swift down.
Hobbies are much faster than Swifts, but the smaller and lighter Swift can avoid most attempts at grabbing by deft manoeuvres.
In the areas I film them there tends to be a Hobby nest every few miles, suggesting they might not hunt beyond a mile or so. However, I once watched a nesting Hobby circle and climb until he disappeared from binocular view vertically overhead in a clear sky - my estimate was at well over two miles above me! How far he was going I can only guess, but it shows what capabilities they have.
In Australia, I've known them to hunt up to five miles from their nest.
Good video. I've filmed many attacks by Peregrines and they are difficult to film. Your video illustrates just how effective of a hunter most falcons really are.
That one was a Eurasian Hobby 🤗
Thanks so much for your comments - they are greatly appreciated!
Truly a great video. I have many birds in my backyard in Ontario due to all the bird seed I put out. I seem to have attracted a falcon myself which preys on all the other birds I've attracted leaving me with a feathery bloody mess of many a carcass...but it's survival of the fittest I guess. Thank You
I've seen two hobbies working as a team to separate and then picking off the swifts. Amazing Birds.
Awesome video, I never thought any bird could catch a Swift!
Thanks. We'll never know if there would have been a catch without the female, but my guess is there would.
I wonder if the other falcon was helping keep the swift off balance or in range ? You would think the swift could just dive then dart along the ground but didn't.
Don Baxley m
some clueless comments spoken as if they know what there talking about. the joys of the internet. great video though!
There were countless times when the falcon gained on the swift, but the swift, though slower, just banked out the way to avoid capture. I believe this high energy falcon could simply just "hyena" the poor swift to death rather than just use raw agility to out maneuver it.
wooOOW that unbelievable first time i see falcon catch swift .but i think if the falcon was alone with out recovery by the female its will not ever will catch the swift . absloutly amazing video we need more but with throat white needle or white ramp swift . thank you for uploading
This footage is priceless!
This is also an awesome video.
Absolutely impressive.
Thank you for sharing.
that little bird can juke!!
Posted by NADINE Staufenbiel: "Only if the swift is weak.I have seen swifts run rings around the hobby many times."
In a study in the Po Valley in Italy, 53% (!!) of all birds caught were Common Swifts [Mebs & Schmidt 2006]. Do you believe that all of these swifts were weak? When hunting, the hobby is significantly faster than the swift in level flight.
+telemarkman 53%!?!?!
Can't they go for easier prey like sparrows?
+Bk Jeong Hobbies are very aerial birds - so are swifts, sparrows not so much. They spend much more time on the ground closer to humans, and are not a very natural prey for a hobby. I'm sure they catch a few though. But except for the breeding season they mostly catch big insects, like dragonflies.
I would guess there catching migrating Swift's which would not be in the best condition. Also when both hawks join in the Swift's chances are quite low...
It looked to me like the captured swift was transferred from one falcon to another at 6:27, with an earlier unsuccessful transfer attempt a few seconds earlier. Is this correct?
I read somewhere that they hunt far from the nest, I only know of one area near by can definately see Hobbies. I know people like to keep details secret but can you give me a vague clue to what area you are in?
Very nice video. Is it true that hobbies hunt far from the nest?
Is that a second falcon that comes in after the swift is caught? Possibly it's offspring?
got to love hobbies quite a few round my way- saw some trying to catch hirundines on migration in the pyrenees too, though with no success.
Wind tunnel experiments prove that the Merlin can fly at a speed of 35 m/s(126 km/h) in a sustained level flight (so can the Eleonoras falcon), so it's not unlikely that a Hobby may reach a maximum speed of 150 km/h in flapping level flight.
This is significantly faster than a Swift, which frequently falls pray to the Hobby.
The second one is the catcher's mate (the female), who heads directly back to the chicks.
To all who didn't know facts I'll say: The Hobby is fastest from the falcon family in active flight, his measured speed is over* 150km/h.
160
great video ...great birds...the hobby saw that the swift is weak and involved in a long chase
Suerte tubo el halcon, el vencejo se descuido.... y fue pillado. buen video.
Patience! One day you will suddenly find yourself with the couple of minutes footage you want.
The film was taken on a 10th August, so it could be adult or juvenile Swift.
I cannot prove that Hobbies are much faster than Swifts, any more than Mr Fiuczynski can prove the generality of his quoted speeds. I can only report my observation over many years that Hobbies appear to be markedly the fastest bird in level flight in UK skies.
The lightness of the Swift should certainly tilt things more in its favour when climbing or manoeuvering versus a Hobby.
Mid to north Warwickshire - more details given at end of videos.
swift is the fastest bird on earth in horizontal flight.if falcon can catch them then how fast they could b??
Hobby sure had to work for his meal.
i've saw this once and that was 3 years ago
Eurasian Hobbies can reach 150 km/h in level flight and 240 in a stoop…. 🤗🔥
Much, much faster. No matter what the noobs post on internet, I watch my pairs for years. I know what I saw. One of my pairs is near factory where they hunt 90% only swifts from the day they return from migration.
I don't believe this was a chimney swift. A chimney swift couldn't have that much meat on his bones to be the target of a falcon. I have a chimney swift tower at my home, and if they can catch them, they are great predators!
It's not a chimney swift, it's a common swift which is about the same size a s a purple martain. This is in Europe. Chimney swifts are from the united states and south america.
And Mississippi kites regularly prey on chimney swifts the same way this hobby did.
Speed vs speed
The Common Swift is the fastest bird of all in level flight, recorded as reaching 70 mph.
I have recorded my peregrines going faster than that in level flight (around 75mph)!
No it isn't. Red breasted mergansers, when scared can fly 85 miles an hour. And needltail swifts have been clocked at 105 miles an hour.
i seriously have no to have watched this whole video :p
جليميه ' ولاا شهانه عطونا رايكم ؟
ماهي شيهانه والله اعلم
nice dogfight
Not so swift .
the White-throated Needletail is still faster.(fastest bird in flapping flight ever!)
Haha wouldn't of happened if it was a spine tailed swift