Merlins, Kirkland, 130724
Merlins!....Or, Why it's good to be bored at social gatherings.
Thank you, everyone, who gave me the id of a "lifer"...a bird I am seeing for the first time.
Out of ennui, having clicked the people at the neighborhood gathering that my daughter organized in Kirkland, I was looking at the majesty of the Cedars and the Douglas Firs...and my evening was made!
I found three raptors being chased all over the huge trees by the American Crows. They were, of course, against the evening light. Given the shape of the wings in flight and the general size of the birds, So many of the members of the Pacific Northwest Birders FB group commented on my post, to tell me these are fledgling Merlins.
It's ironic that my bird id app, Merlin, did not identify its namesake!
In case you all feel that my photos are not up to par.. you can see the video that I took of one of them, which shows exactly how far away the birds were. I love the zoom on my little bridge camera!
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eBird:https://ebird.org/checklist/S187145851
iNat: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-07-13&place_id=any&user_id=deemopahan&verifiable=any
Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/86494503@N00/albums/72177720318815758 (9 photos)
FB: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10160626594368878&type=3
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Wiki entry about the bird is
here
The merlin (Falco columbarius) is a small species of falcon from the Northern Hemisphere,[2] with numerous subspecies throughout North America and Eurasia. A bird of prey once known colloquially as a pigeon hawk in North America, the merlin breeds in the northern Holarctic; some migrate to subtropical and northern tropical regions in winter.
They are swift fliers and skilled hunters which specialize in preying on small birds in the size range of sparrows to quail. The merlin has for centuries been well regarded as a falconry bird. In recent decades merlin populations in North America have been significantly increasing, with some merlins becoming so well adapted to city life that they forgo migration. Males typically have wingspans of 53-58 centimetres (21-23 in), with females being slightly larger.
The name "merlin" is derived from Old French esmerillon via Anglo-Norman merilun or meriliun. There are related Germanic words derived through older forms such as Middle Dutch smeerle, Old High German smerle and Old Icelandic smyrill. Wycliffe's Bible, around 1382, mentions An Egle, & agriffyn, & a merlyon. The species was once known as 'pigeon hawk' in North America.
In size, shape and coloration, it is fairly distinct among living falcons. The red-necked falcon is sometimes considered more closely related to the merlin than other falcons, but this seems to be a coincidence due to similar hunting habits; it could not be confirmed in more recent studies. Indeed, the merlin seems to represent a lineage distinct from other living falcons since at least the Early Pliocene, some 5 Ma (million years ago).
Merlins inhabit fairly open country, such as willow or birch scrub, shrubland, but also taiga forest, parks, grassland such as steppe and prairies, or moorland. They are not very habitat-specific and can be found from sea level to the treeline. In general, they prefer a mix of low and medium-height vegetation with some trees, and avoid dense forests as well as treeless arid regions. During migration however, they will utilize almost any habitat.
Corvids are the primary threat to eggs and nestlings. Adult merlins may be preyed on by larger raptors, especially peregrine falcons (F. peregrinus), eagle-owls (e.g., great horned owl, Bubo virginianus), and larger Accipiter hawks (e.g., northern goshawk, A. gentilis). In general however, carnivorous birds avoid merlins due to their aggressiveness and agility. Their desire to drive larger raptors away from their territory is so pronounced that it is an identifying characteristic.
By far the most serious long-term threat to these birds is habitat destruction, especially in their breeding areas. Ground-nesting populations in moorland have a preference for tall heather, and are thus susceptible to overmanagement by burning vast tracts.
Still, the merlin is rather euryoecious (adaptable to various conditions) and will even live in settled areas, provided they have the proper mix of low and high vegetation, as well as sufficient prey (which is usually the case) and nesting sites (which is a common limiting factor).In North America, the species seems to have been more widespread in the past, or perhaps its range has shifted northwards.
Although the merlin shares its name with the wizard Merlin prominent in Arthurian legendry, the bird is not named after the wizard. The wizard's name is an English cognate of the Welsh name “Myrddin” and is unrelated to the name of the bird.
***************************
Video:
Thank you, everyone, who gave me the id of a "lifer"...a bird I am seeing for the first time.
Out of ennui, having clicked the people at the neighborhood gathering that my daughter organized in Kirkland, I was looking at the majesty of the Cedars and the Douglas Firs...and my evening was made!
I found three raptors being chased all over the huge trees by the American Crows. They were, of course, against the evening light. Given the shape of the wings in flight and the general size of the birds, So many of the members of the Pacific Northwest Birders FB group commented on my post, to tell me these are fledgling Merlins.
It's ironic that my bird id app, Merlin, did not identify its namesake!
In case you all feel that my photos are not up to par.. you can see the video that I took of one of them, which shows exactly how far away the birds were. I love the zoom on my little bridge camera!
***********************
eBird:https://ebird.org/checklist/S187145851
iNat: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-07-13&place_id=any&user_id=deemopahan&verifiable=any
Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/86494503@N00/albums/72177720318815758 (9 photos)
FB: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10160626594368878&type=3
*****************************
Wiki entry about the bird is
here
The merlin (Falco columbarius) is a small species of falcon from the Northern Hemisphere,[2] with numerous subspecies throughout North America and Eurasia. A bird of prey once known colloquially as a pigeon hawk in North America, the merlin breeds in the northern Holarctic; some migrate to subtropical and northern tropical regions in winter.
They are swift fliers and skilled hunters which specialize in preying on small birds in the size range of sparrows to quail. The merlin has for centuries been well regarded as a falconry bird. In recent decades merlin populations in North America have been significantly increasing, with some merlins becoming so well adapted to city life that they forgo migration. Males typically have wingspans of 53-58 centimetres (21-23 in), with females being slightly larger.
The name "merlin" is derived from Old French esmerillon via Anglo-Norman merilun or meriliun. There are related Germanic words derived through older forms such as Middle Dutch smeerle, Old High German smerle and Old Icelandic smyrill. Wycliffe's Bible, around 1382, mentions An Egle, & agriffyn, & a merlyon. The species was once known as 'pigeon hawk' in North America.
In size, shape and coloration, it is fairly distinct among living falcons. The red-necked falcon is sometimes considered more closely related to the merlin than other falcons, but this seems to be a coincidence due to similar hunting habits; it could not be confirmed in more recent studies. Indeed, the merlin seems to represent a lineage distinct from other living falcons since at least the Early Pliocene, some 5 Ma (million years ago).
Merlins inhabit fairly open country, such as willow or birch scrub, shrubland, but also taiga forest, parks, grassland such as steppe and prairies, or moorland. They are not very habitat-specific and can be found from sea level to the treeline. In general, they prefer a mix of low and medium-height vegetation with some trees, and avoid dense forests as well as treeless arid regions. During migration however, they will utilize almost any habitat.
Corvids are the primary threat to eggs and nestlings. Adult merlins may be preyed on by larger raptors, especially peregrine falcons (F. peregrinus), eagle-owls (e.g., great horned owl, Bubo virginianus), and larger Accipiter hawks (e.g., northern goshawk, A. gentilis). In general however, carnivorous birds avoid merlins due to their aggressiveness and agility. Their desire to drive larger raptors away from their territory is so pronounced that it is an identifying characteristic.
By far the most serious long-term threat to these birds is habitat destruction, especially in their breeding areas. Ground-nesting populations in moorland have a preference for tall heather, and are thus susceptible to overmanagement by burning vast tracts.
Still, the merlin is rather euryoecious (adaptable to various conditions) and will even live in settled areas, provided they have the proper mix of low and high vegetation, as well as sufficient prey (which is usually the case) and nesting sites (which is a common limiting factor).In North America, the species seems to have been more widespread in the past, or perhaps its range has shifted northwards.
Although the merlin shares its name with the wizard Merlin prominent in Arthurian legendry, the bird is not named after the wizard. The wizard's name is an English cognate of the Welsh name “Myrddin” and is unrelated to the name of the bird.
***************************
Video:
Click to view