African hobby  (Falco cuvierii)

The African hobby is a small, dark falcon with a slim body and long, scythe-like wings, which reach to the end of the tail when the bird is perched (4) (5). The throat, chest and underparts are a rich chestnut colour, finely streaked with black, and the back, wings and tail are dark grey to slate black. The chestnut-buff cheeks are marked with a distinctive black ‘moustache', the eyes are dark brown, surrounded by a ring of yellow skin, and the legs are yellow. The female African hobby is slightly larger than the male, while juveniles are distinguished by having duller upperparts, edged in brown, and more heavily streaked underparts (2) (4). The call of the African hobby is a high-pitched kik-kik-kik-kik (6).