Falcon catches Swift

[keili1212]

the White-throated Needletail is still faster.(fastest bird in flapping flight ever!)

[twentius777]

nice dogfight

[ionut86g]

great video ...great birds...the hobby saw that the swift is weak and involved in a long chase

[achillessniper]

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.

[hex0bite]

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.

[telemarkman]

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.

[MsBrowse]

i've saw this once and that was 3 years ago

[norvalmac7]

As well, nice footage. I watched this a few times and wonder if the Swift was actually playing (in the act of enjoying flight) with what it thought was just another bird. In the end , it came close to the other bird (checking it out) not realizing it was a predator. When it was caught it didn't seem to try and do anything evasive, just in a arch glide?? Unfortunate for the swift, good news for the falcon and it's chicks.

[glasgowstef]

Excellent footage of these rear birds! very impresive

[hex0bite]

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.

[Permuted]

Stunning sequence and I love the way you've put it together so we can actually follow what's going on.

[WINDxp01]

I love swifts and I reckon this one put up a good fight. I just hope the Falcon Chicks didn't waste any of the kill, kids can be so ungrateful these days!

[cirost]

amazing without doubt, i know one hobby´s nest in the czech republic near vsetin and i saw a few unsuccessfull attacks on common swifts but he kills very often swallows

[daboi2345]

the fastest flapping flight in the world is the white-throated needle-tailed swift at 170 km/h (106 mph)

[HepaOlms]

The situation is the following: Two Hobbies are chasing a single Swift - under normal conditions a single Hobby can`t outfly a Swift. But...by the way: Very rare video -respect.

MfG

[betacygni]

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.

[OndrejCernej]

I thing the final attack made male with female. The female closed the exit way to the swift.

But anyway: Both of these birds (hobby and swift) are real lords of the flight. However this fight wasn´t just a game and the swift pay it with its life.

[HepaOlms]

Ondrej, that is the point!The falcons only succeed when the Swifts leave their nestboxes.There are many reports which document (Hobby-Expert: D. Fiuczynski), that it is almost impossible for Hobbies (even for a pair) to outfly an adult Common Swift. The Swift normally escape from catching by rapid turns in its flightline or by gaining height. Hobbies are not „much faster than Swifts.The Hobby is superior in straight flight (Hobby=105 km/h; Swift=95 km/h -> 2,8 m/s) but not in ascenting flight.

[betacygni]

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.

[mo4life123]

that little bird can juke!!

[michael6mac]

Very nice video. Is it true that hobbies hunt far from the nest?

[betacygni]

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.

[TheTenantsEye]

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?

[betacygni]

Mid to north Warwickshire - more details given at end of videos.

[drogoBROADBAND]

Awesome video, I never thought any bird could catch a Swift!

[kevartcompositesltd]

A truly great film of my favourite bird doing what it does best! I have seen this many times at Beddington Sewage Farm High up in Spring, but have always tried to film it! So Green with envy. Etty Falco

[betacygni]

Patience! One day you will suddenly find yourself with the couple of minutes footage you want.

[raqsbanat]

Typical, send in a woman to finish a mans job!!! lol Amazing footage, you must have superhuman reflexes to be able to keep it in shot, it bit like Steve Austin! Thanks again.

[camtnkngsnk]

wrong, the analogy here is a working stiff bringing home the paycheck for the wifee/kiddies ; )

breathtaking hunt footage by the way...thanks for sharing : )

[caitlmac1]

Is that a second falcon that comes in after the swift is caught? Possibly it's offspring?

[betacygni]

The second one is the catcher's mate (the female), who heads directly back to the chicks.

[qriusg]

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

[hex0bite]

This footage is priceless!

[NordicHealingLight]

Amazing. I've heard that they can catch Swifts in full flight but this is the first I have ever seen it.

[foudgeta]

This is also an awesome video.

Absolutely impressive.

Thank you for sharing.

[betacygni]

Thanks so much for your comments - they are greatly appreciated!