Hawk ID

Hello my bird friends. I haven't been posting much lately but I need to call on your brilliant minds to help me ID this Hawk. I'm thinking Merlin again, but then I always think Merlin and I'm always wrong.

Anyone care to put a name on this one?

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Great shots Shirley. I'd say Merlin, which BTW is a falcon.

I've only seen them from a distance. Looks like you got close, about how far?

Thanks Steve. This one did let me get quite close. I was surprised that it let me get about 20 to 30 feet from it.

Great catch Shirley, don't get to see many Falcons in the wild out here.

Really nice shots of this guy, whatever it is. Never seen one quite like it. He sure is a messy eater.

Thanks Mitch. I agree. He needs a napkin and a plate.

I got a shot of a bird that looks just like this one in Florida. I didn't know what it was either.???
Karen

Here is a shot of a merlin taken last year near St Petersburg.

Interesting find and capture Shirley... amazing close up shots of a fearless hunter.

I did a series on them last summer, I spent a couple weeks watching and photographing a nest of chicks that fledged. The mother Merlin brought back an amazing quantity of song birds in that period... mostly chickadees, warblers & RB Nuthatches...

Any warblers back yet in your area?

db

No Warblers yet. At least not that I've seen. Someone reported seeing a Palm Warbler and a Yellow Rump last week so it won't be long now.

Great Merlin shots!

Very nice. I've only seen one Merlin and I'd love to see some more.

Excellent work on these Shirley

Thanks. I guess I can call it a Merlin now for sure.

Nice captures/images of the Merlin here Shirley. They aren't as timid as their falcon cousin Kestrel ..I always get a thrill when i see a Merlin...great little hunters.