Merlin?, Angus glens, Scotland 20/4/16 (1 Viewer)

[Stonefaction]

Saw this bird of prey this lunchtime in the lower reaches of one of the Angus glens in east central Scotland. Initial glance I thought it was Peregrine before lifting camera, but my pal thought Kestrel. I then struggled to get focus on the bird for a photo with the end result that my only real view of the bird was my initial one. Looking at the pics, I can see it certainly wasn't a Peregrine and it looks all wrong for Kestrel (markings and shape/jizz). That leaves Merlin (a male by looks of things) but on the rare occasions I see that species it is either perched or more from the side than underneath. Can anyone confirm my suspicions, please?

 

[Stuart Matthews]

Looks like a hobby to me.

 

[Stonefaction]

Too "chunky" for a Hobby (and a bit early for one this far north too I'd reckon). Have seen a couple of those from underneath and they look even slimmer/longer-winged than Kestrels.

 

[lou salomon]

male merlin indeed.

 

[Stonefaction]

Thanks, Lou.

 

[Ratal]

Looks like a hobby to me.

Yeah, I see that too, but the tail, wings, all are Merlin. Many people haven't seen a Me with his buffish red undersides and can really, really throw you for a second.

 

[P.Sunesen]

Yeah, I see that too, but the tail, wings, all are Merlin. Many people haven't seen a Me with his buffish red undersides and can really, really throw you for a second.

Exactly!

I came to realise this in a discussion some years ago, when the picture below elicited far fetched theories of a Merlin x Hobby hybrid (oddly enough birders usually do know that adult Hobby has reddish "trousers").

Of course the bird linked to is a completely normal, if richly coloured, adult
male Merlin, and I had to dig out a quote from a old volume on Danish birds of prey (E.L.Schiøler) where the description of adult male Merlin was based on 17 skin, which all had " vividly rusty-red feathers of the tibia" to make the administrators of the site change the caption from "doubt of the identification" to "Merlin adult male".

Peter

www.netfugl.dk/pictures.php?id=showpicture&picture_id=27025

 

[Ratal]

Indeed! I can see why, because if you catch a quick glimpse and see russet underside the first thought is for most 'Hobby.' It is when you see the end of the tail, and those stubby wings that you realise 'something isn't right here.'

It is though a stunningly fresh bird, lovely plumage tones.

 

[Jonno52]

I thought Hobby for a moment on seeing these pictures, but even without considering plumage, the build and proportions are those of Merlin, which is stockier, less "rakish", and proportionally larger headed.

 

[andyotter]

Exactly!

I came to realise this in a discussion some years ago, when the picture below elicited far fetched theories of a Merlin x Hobby hybrid (oddly enough birders usually do know that adult Hobby has reddish "trousers").

Of course the bird linked to is a completely normal, if richly coloured, adult
male Merlin, and I had to dig out a quote from a old volume on Danish birds of prey (E.L.Schiøler) where the description of adult male Merlin was based on 17 skin, which all had " vividly rusty-red feathers of the tibia" to make the administrators of the site change the caption from "doubt of the identification" to "Merlin adult male".

Peter

www.netfugl.dk/pictures.php?id=showpicture&picture_id=27025

Thanks, Peter, Good Knowledge!