1/4/2024 0 Comments Kestrel hawk sounds![]() ![]() Three races of Merlin: Taiga (Boreal forest), Prairie (Great Plains), and Black (Pacific Northwest).Sexes differ in adult plumage, but are similar in juveniles, which resemble adult females. ![]() Almost all have dark tails with several narrow white bands. Merlin is dark-streaked underneath and uniformly darker on top.All Merlins have dark brown eyes compared to the yellow eyes of juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawks, a telling giveaway. They are also more heavily streaked on the underparts. Merlins have shorter, boldly banded tails, a “mustache” mark, and much longer wings. However, Merlin rarely frequents backyards, preferring open habitats instead. Call is a rapid, high-pitched “kee-kee-kee-kee-kee.” Female is larger than male and appears longer winged.īackyard birders confuse the streaky-plumaged juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk for Merlin when seen in their yards. Merlin is typically silent but vocal during aggressive encounters with other raptors or when nesting. Some Merlins winter within their breeding range. Some winter along the Pacific Coast to southern California, inland to Utah. Black Merlin breeds and winters in the Pacific Northwest forests from southern Alaska to Washington. They are uncommon as far west as California and rare in the East. and southern Canada within the Great Plains and winters from the breeding range into Central America. Prairie Merlins occur throughout the western half of the U.S. The Taiga race occurs throughout most of North America but is the only race seen in the Eastern half of the United States. They nest in conifer stands in abandoned crow and raptor nests, but sometimes on the ground north of the treeline. Great Plains, around the Great Lakes, and New England area nowadays. They are also more common in urban areas in the northern U.S. Merlin is a widespread breeder across boreal habitats, often nesting near clearings around bogs and lakeshores from Alaska east through the Canadian Maritimes and south through the US-Canada border region. Merlins seem easily agitated, harassing larger raptors seemingly for fun. Merlins are small birds, only slightly larger than American Kestrels, but stockier overall and fly with speed and stability. ![]()
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