Merlin or Sparrowhawk? Scotland (1 Viewer)

Capercaillie71 · Nov 23, 2008

I took these photos a month or so back on farmland in north-east Scotland. My initial thought was Merlin, but some of the later photos look quite sparrowhawkish. Apologies for the quality of the photos, but the bird was 400-500 metres away and the images are heavily cropped, but otherwise unaltered.

birdboybowley · Nov 23, 2008

Merlin

Macswede · Nov 24, 2008

I'd agree with Merlin. The pointed wings rule out Sparrowhawk.

Capercaillie71 · Nov 24, 2008

Macswede said:
The pointed wings rule out Sparrowhawk.

Yes, and I had no problem with my initial ID of Merlin based on the first three photos. It was just when I looked at the last two, and the wings looked somehow broader and with shorter 'hands' that I started to wonder if the first three photos were misleading, as I've seen sparrowhawks look quite pointy-winged in the past. I guess it is these last two photos that are misleading though. Thanks.

apbarr · Nov 24, 2008

Capercaillie71 said:
Yes, and I had no problem with my initial ID of Merlin based on the first three photos. It was just when I looked at the last two, and the wings looked somehow broader and with shorter 'hands' that I started to wonder if the first three photos were misleading, as I've seen sparrowhawks look quite pointy-winged in the past. I guess it is these last two photos that are misleading though. Thanks.

Funnily enough it was picture 4 that clinched it as a Merlin for me.

AlexB

Merlin or Sparrowhawk? Scotland (1 Viewer)

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