Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: BetCrooks on March 13, 2015, 09:17:58 AM

Title: Kestrel? Juvenile?
Post by: BetCrooks on March 13, 2015, 09:17:58 AM

I hope someone can recognize this bird even though the photos are not sharp.
I'm guessing it's a kestrel, maybe a juvenile? but I'd prefer a more educated opinion.
It was quite a show watching a crow force the kestrel to take off, which would then chase and harass the crow, perch again, and repeat several times until the crow gave up.

for size vs the crow
[attachment=2:1vrjp5zm]RaptorandCrow.jpg[/attachment:1vrjp5zm]

wings for markings
[attachment=1:1vrjp5zm]raptorD.jpg[/attachment:1vrjp5zm]

I couldn't get a clear shot of its face from the angle I was at
[attachment=0:1vrjp5zm]raptorK.jpg[/attachment:1vrjp5zm]

Title: Re: Kestrel? Juvenile?
Post by: Rotarran on March 13, 2015, 09:42:13 AM

That looks more like a Merlin to me.

Title: Re: Kestrel? Juvenile?
Post by: gary yankech on March 13, 2015, 02:38:42 PM

this is  a Merlin

Title: Re: Kestrel? Juvenile?
Post by: BetCrooks on March 13, 2015, 04:12:54 PM

Cool! Many thanks!
I was tricked by the relative size and the mustache. And the fact that I've seen Kestrels before but I've never seen a Merlin. I should have looked up the tails in flight instead of trying to figure it out from the face. Now that I've dug out my old Peterson's I can see better what I missed.
Thanks again.