The Falcon Formerly Known As

Pigeon Hawk.  Of course, it is now known as Merlin  (Falco columbarius). 

The usual Merlin we have here is the paler 'Prairie' (F. c. richardsonii).  However, this one looks more like a 'Taiga' (F.c. columbarius) to me; such as one that might have been farther North for the breeding season and is now heading South.  Some Merlins are Neotropical migrants; the Prairie type is a year-round resident here (at least in my town as per  previous blog posts here and here)  

It was eating a large blue dragonfly just before I got my camera lined up.  Smaller birds are usually the main food source.

Cool Fact from All About Birds

The Merlin does not build a nest, but instead takes over old nests of other raptors or crows.  It sometimes nests on top of domed magpie nests rather than in the nest cavity.

For more information and audio clip, go to All About Birds

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/merlin/id

Ms. Merlin Strikes Again

Remember when I blogged about this?  Well, she stopped in for lunch today.  I just saw her flying away when the dogs next door were let out.   I found this in the back yard.

A closer look at the feathers and debris revealed a bunch of sunflower seeds.  The dove, for yes, it was an EC Dove, had been feeding and had a full crop.

Merlin

I found this male 'Prairie' Merlin (Falco columbarius richardsonii) out in the country yesterday afternoon.  The prairie version of the Merlin is much paler in colouring than the very dark West Coast race (F.c.suckleyi) or the nominate Northern race (F.c.columbarius) which is somewhere between the two in colour.

There's a resident female Merlin in my neighbourhood.  She regularly swoops into my backyard, scaring the bejeezus out of the sparrows, doves, finches.  Sometimes she nabs one. 

Merlins were formerly known as Pigeon Hawks.   In fact, here's the neighbourhood girl chowing down on one of our lovely Eurasian Collared Doves, which is about the same size as a pigeon.  Photo from last Winter sometime.