[lcbno] Fwd: [obol] Re: Merlin ID [Waldport area]

From: Range Bayer <range.bayer@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO)" <lcbno@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2022 18:41:48 -0800

[First the response, then the original email with photo.]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Wayne Hoffman <whoffman@xxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, Jan 19, 2022 at 4:20 PM
Subject: [obol] Re: Merlin ID
To: Roy Lowe <roy.loweiii@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: obol <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi -

And great Photo!

I agree that this is a Taiga Merlin, Falco columbarius columbarius, but
toward the pale end of the spectrum.  It is way too pale to be a Black
Merlin, F. c. suckleyi.  The third North American subspecies, Prairie
merlin, F. c. richardsonii, is even paler, and in particular should not
show the dark crown of this bird.  What shows of upper-wing color is also
dark for richardsonii.

Wayne Hoffman
------------------------------
*From: *"Roy Lowe" <roy.loweiii@xxxxxxxxx>
*To: *"obol" <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Sent: *Wednesday, January 19, 2022 7:06:13 PM
*Subject: *[obol] Merlin ID

On Sunday, I conducted the winter survey for snowy plovers in the Waldport
area.  As I was identifying color bands on some of the birds a merlin swept
in and made several unsuccessful attempts to grab a plover.  It then
perched on a nearby log.  I obtained some photos of the bird then quickly
left the area so my presence wouldn’t somehow facilitate a plover predation
event.  Oh, and blood stains on the lower belly indicates it had fed
recently.

The juvenile plover looks like a taiga subspecies to me but I have limited
experience with merlins so I’d appreciate feedback from others.

Thanks in advance.

Roy

Roy Lowe
Waldport, OR

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rloweiii/
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/24707703@N06/

[lcbno] Fwd: [obol] Re: Merlin ID [Waldport area]

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