Birdwatching

MERLIN.


A small falcon ,male only about size of mistle thruch, but female nearly as big as kestrel.
Compact the relatively short,sharplypointed,angled wings and medium length tail produce distinctive silhouette that readily separates it from both Hobby and kestrel.



Most likely to be seen flying low over moorland or coastal marshes with fast, dashing flight in which sharply pointed angled back wings produce rather flicking flight action. Will however,also rise to some height and fly at speed towards insuspecting prey, wings often intermittently closed into body to produce flight action strongly reminiscent of fast flying mistle thruch.





When pursuing prey at close range, follows every twist and turn of quarry.
Frequently sits on prominent perches, such as posts and stones.
The Aldult males are in the minority.
Ther are blue grey above, with thick, dark subterminal tail band.
Underparts vary from beige to orangy.
The Aldult female and juvenile, dark brown above, well streaked below on whitish to orangy background.







Show white throat, but lack strong moustachial stripes, but sharply defined ear coverts help to produce hooded effect. Neat white line over eye, tail strongly barred. Juveniles not certainly separable from adult famales it seems, however, that they are generally creamier on throat, have more diffuse moustachial stripes, less clear cut ear coverts, a pale crescent below eye, more diffuse creamy supercilium, ant pale patch on nape, underparts tend to be duller, cere bluish on juveniles.

On breeding grounds, calls include shrill, chattering kik ik ik, recalling kestrel. PITFALLS..... Confusable with both hobby and peregrine, but note that by October when migrant MERLINS appear in force in lowlands.





A notorious beginner's bird, claims of Merlin in atypical situations often involve male Sparrowhawks Have a nice birding day.....