Merlin?? 1/28/2023. New Bern, North Carolina. (1 Viewer)

[fiveroll]

An acquaintance said this is what some folks on the birding world call “blue jack” Merlin. Looks like a Merlin I guess but colored a bit different. First I thought Kestrel.

 

[KenM]

Any more pics fiveroll?

Cheers

 

[fiveroll]

No sorry

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

An acquaintance said this is what some folks on the birding world call “blue jack” Merlin. Looks like a Merlin I guess but colored a bit different. First I thought Kestrel.

Not an expression I’ve ever heard. Male Merlin’s are a bluey-grey above.

 

[fiveroll]

Interesting sighting. I took a photo of a red-headed woodpecker. When I expanded it this bird was above it and we never saw it. Also when I run the bird on the Merlin App it comes up as a Merlin.

 

[KenM]

Am wondering how far Pacific Merlin’s range, as it does look rather dark to the upper-parts and indeed if the 3 main forms hybridise at all?…also was the shot taken early or late in the day, might explain the citrus orange effect to the Under tail coverts.

Cheers

 

[Butty]

Underexposed (no offence) regular adult male merlin. Undertail-coverts too lightly marked for Pacific form.

 

[AveryBartels]

Agreed with Butty, nothing to suggest this is a Black Merlin, just a regular Taiga form (columbiarus)

 

[fiveroll]

Alrighty thanks