This agile falcon resembles some populations of the widespread Peregrine Falcon (F. peregrinus). In particular, Indian and Asian populations of Peregrine (race F. p. peregrinator) are rufous on their underparts and some Peregrines in SW Australia may be rufous on the chest. The Australian Hobby is smaller and more agile than the Peregrine and has relatively longer wings usually extending beyond the tip of the tail as seen here. Most authors (e.g. IOC, Howard & Moore, HANZAB) recognize a paler race, F. l. murchisonianus inhabiting drier areas including northern Australia. However HBW & Clements consider that race invalid because it intergrades with darker birds in humid areas and treat murchisonianus as a synonym of nominate longipennis which ranges through southern and eastern Australia. In fact many valid subspecies intergrade with each other where they come into contact, so I am puzzled by the HBW argument. I have departed from my preferred Clements taxonomy and assigned this bird to murchisonianus.
Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LZ5 | Nikon FieldScope III | 30XWA | hand-held (no adapter)