Bangladesh (E) (B), Bhutan (B), Cambodia, China (mainland) (B), India (B), Indonesia (B), Laos (B), Myanmar (B), Nepal (B), Papua New Guinea (B), Philippines (B), Solomon Islands, Thailand (B), Vietnam (B).
Vagrant to Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Sri Lanka.
Unknown to Palau.
North-western India and Nepal east to Yunnan, Guangdong and Hainan (southern China), and south through Burma, Thailand and Indochina to Philippines, Java and Sulawesi, whence east through New Guinea to Solomon Is. Himalayan birds winter south to southern India and Sri Lanka.
Population
Estimated population is 1,000 - 10,000 (2010).
Oriental Hobby (Falco severus) [XC80679]
by Diego Caiafa from Nameri National Park, Assam, India (call)
Oriental Hobby (Falco severus) [XC353798]
by Martjan Lammertink from Khlong Mon Substation, Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Suratthani Province, Thailand (song)
Subspecies
Forms superspecies with Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis), and perhaps also with Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo) and African Hobby (Falco cuvierii). Variation of present species in size and plumage slight and clinal and insufficient for subspecies differentiation.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet