What bird is this (the alive one)?

What bird is this (the alive one)? · 08:43 PM

Any ideas what bird this is? I was thinking a Merlin or Peregrine but not knowledgeable about birds. It was on the sidewalk outside my apartment when I came home walking the dog tonight. Stayed around for long time ignoring the crowd of people watching it eat. Had plenty of time to grab my K30 and 55-300mm lens

**sholtzma** · 04-02-2014, 08:52 PM

To my untrained eye, looks more like a Merlin than a Peregrine.

Nice shots!

Haminacan · 04-02-2014, 09:00 PM

Merlin? Did you see it fly? Did it have pointed wing tips?

**Aristophanes** · 04-02-2014, 09:06 PM

Merlin to me. Size would be right if that's a songbird for dinner. Doesn't have the distinct facial plumage for the peregrine's I've seen. Could be a young peregrine.

Great capture.

EastVanBear · 04-02-2014, 09:12 PM

Originally posted by Haminacan

Merlin? Did you see it fly? Did it have pointed wing tips?

It did fly off with it's kill after someone got too close. Wings were bit pointed, flapped them lot to fly small distance

---------- Post added 04-02-14 at 09:15 PM ----------

Thanks everyone, the drawings in my bird book were not that helpful. Should bring my camera on more dog walks.

johnyates · 04-02-2014, 09:27 PM

Originally posted by EastVanBear

Should bring my camera on more dog walks.

Ummmm . . . how big is your dog? Owl kills Chihuahua near Saskatoon - Saskatoon - CBC News

lesmore49 · 04-02-2014, 09:39 PM

Think lunch is a starling. A bit bigger than a robin...certainly not sparrow sized.

EastVanBear · 04-02-2014, 09:45 PM

Originally posted by johnyates

Ummmm . . . how big is your dog? Owl kills Chihuahua near Saskatoon - Saskatoon - CBC News

Hmm, he is quite a bit bigger than a chihuahua, we do have a lot of skunks, raccoons and a few coyotes in neighborhood though.

goldenarrow · 04-02-2014, 09:53 PM

IMHO, seems like a female since it has cheeks and chin more brown than male, more dark underneath. Merlin tertials end well before the tail when folded. Size is smaller than peregrine and juvenile peregrines seem to be have beginning of dark crescent-like mask or hood on each side of face that gets darker as it moves to adulthood (which this does not have).

Nice shots! Looks like the meal was a robin or maybe female red-winged blackbird. Wildlife is quite amazing to study what really happens.

pete-tarmigan · 04-03-2014, 07:22 AM

Originally posted by EastVanBear

Any ideas what bird this is? I was thinking a Merlin or Peregrine but not knowledgeable about birds. It was on the sidewalk outside my apartment when I came home walking the dog tonight. Stayed around for long time ignoring the crowd of people watching it eat. Had plenty of time to grab my K30 and 55-300mm lens

I agree. Definitely a female Merlin; one of the dark subspecies. The prey is definitely a European Starling in winter plumage.

**Lowell Goudge** · 04-03-2014, 08:04 AM

Originally posted by pete-tarmigan

I agree. Definitely a female Merlin; one of the dark subspecies. The prey is definitely a European Starling in winter plumage.

Agreed

Seems much smaller than the Cooper's hawks that haunt my feeder

**dcmsox2004** · 04-03-2014, 08:38 AM

fine captures of that ravenous raptor... well done! dave m

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04-02-2014, 09:53 PM	#9
goldenarrow Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chicago Suburbs. Photos: Gallery Posts: 501	merlin IMHO, seems like a female since it has cheeks and chin more brown than male, more dark underneath. Merlin tertials end well before the tail when folded. Size is smaller than peregrine and juvenile peregrines seem to be have beginning of dark crescent-like mask or hood on each side of face that gets darker as it moves to adulthood (which this does not have). Nice shots! Looks like the meal was a robin or maybe female red-winged blackbird. Wildlife is quite amazing to study what really happens. Last edited by goldenarrow; 04-02-2014 at 10:07 PM. Reason: .

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04-02-2014, 08:52 PM	#2
sholtzma Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Salisbury, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,043	To my untrained eye, looks more like a Merlin than a Peregrine. Nice shots!

04-02-2014, 09:00 PM	#3
Haminacan New Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: NW Indiana Photos: Albums Posts: 19	Merlin? Did you see it fly? Did it have pointed wing tips?

04-02-2014, 09:06 PM	#4
Aristophanes Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rankin Inlet, Nunavut Photos: Albums Posts: 3,948	Merlin to me. Size would be right if that's a songbird for dinner. Doesn't have the distinct facial plumage for the peregrine's I've seen. Could be a young peregrine. Great capture.

04-02-2014, 09:12 PM	#5
EastVanBear New Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 12 Original Poster	Originally posted by Haminacan Merlin? Did you see it fly? Did it have pointed wing tips? It did fly off with it's kill after someone got too close. Wings were bit pointed, flapped them lot to fly small distance ---------- Post added 04-02-14 at 09:15 PM ---------- Thanks everyone, the drawings in my bird book were not that helpful. Should bring my camera on more dog walks.

04-02-2014, 09:27 PM	#6
johnyates Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Saskatoon, SK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,345	Originally posted by EastVanBear Should bring my camera on more dog walks. Ummmm . . . how big is your dog? Owl kills Chihuahua near Saskatoon - Saskatoon - CBC News

04-02-2014, 09:39 PM	#7
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,337	Think lunch is a starling. A bit bigger than a robin...certainly not sparrow sized.

04-02-2014, 09:45 PM	#8
EastVanBear New Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 12 Original Poster	Originally posted by johnyates Ummmm . . . how big is your dog? Owl kills Chihuahua near Saskatoon - Saskatoon - CBC News Hmm, he is quite a bit bigger than a chihuahua, we do have a lot of skunks, raccoons and a few coyotes in neighborhood though.

04-03-2014, 07:22 AM	#10
pete-tarmigan Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Conception Bay South, New-fun-land Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,272	Originally posted by EastVanBear Any ideas what bird this is? I was thinking a Merlin or Peregrine but not knowledgeable about birds. It was on the sidewalk outside my apartment when I came home walking the dog tonight. Stayed around for long time ignoring the crowd of people watching it eat. Had plenty of time to grab my K30 and 55-300mm lens I agree. Definitely a female Merlin; one of the dark subspecies. The prey is definitely a European Starling in winter plumage.

04-03-2014, 08:04 AM	#11
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,886	Originally posted by pete-tarmigan I agree. Definitely a female Merlin; one of the dark subspecies. The prey is definitely a European Starling in winter plumage. Agreed Seems much smaller than the Cooper's hawks that haunt my feeder

04-03-2014, 08:38 AM	#12
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522	fine captures of that ravenous raptor... well done! dave m

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