Merlin
Falco columbarius
The Merlin is a small falcon found across most of the northern hemisphere. In earlier times, we called them Pigeon Hawks, because in flight, they appeared like pigeons. Today their species name (columbarius, from the Latin for dove) reminds us of their old name.
Science recognises three North American subspecies of Merlin, plus seven more in Eurasia. The three North American members are: F.c. columbarius or Taiga Merlin, F.c. richardsonii or Prairie Merlin, and F.c. suckleyi or Black Merlin. The Taiga Merlin migrates from Canada and the northern USA to Central and South America. The other two birds are residents in their territory. Prairie Merlins make their homes in the Great Plains from Alberta to Wyoming, while Black Merlins stay on North America’s west coast from Alaska to Washington.
I don’t frequently see Merlins, and when I do, I rarely get opportunities to photograph them. When I see them in flight, they move so fast it is difficult to capture an image. When I find them perched, often they are too distant for adequate image captures. Perhaps one day I’ll find more ideal conditions.

Merlin(Falco columbarius) |
Description: Lower Klamath NWR, in Northern California (bordering Oregon). |
Date Taken: 2002:12:27 9:15 |
Location:
Lower Klamath |
Camera Information: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 4000 ED, |
File Name: A2L27d12-Merlin |
© 2002 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |


Merlin(Falco columbarius) |
Description: Lower Klamath NWR, in Northern California (bordering Oregon). |
Date Taken: 2002:12:27 9:15 |
Location:
Lower Klamath |
Camera Information: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 4000 ED, |
File Name: A2L27d22-Merlin |
© 2002 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |


Merlin(Falco columbarius) |
Description: This Merlin almost got past me on its fly-over the ponds. At 6:15am I was the first guest at the preserve and I stayed until 12:30. Bird Viewing Preserve in Henderson, southern Nevada. |
Date Taken: 2020:11:09 8:10 |
Location:
Bird Viewing Preserve |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: Merlin_D5X7502-Henderson-BVP |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Merlin(Falco columbarius) |
Description: This shot is what I would characterize as an "ID" quality image. My second afternoon capturing bird images in camp at Breeze Lake, Brownsville Texas. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:16 17:16 |
Location:
Breeze Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: Merlin_D5X1461-BreezeLake-TX |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Merlin(Falco columbarius) |
Description: Spotting this Merlin as it sailed over my position was a surprise. It was a relatively slow day for birds at Bosque del Apache, but even a slow day there beats most places I’ve birded. |
Date Taken: 2020:11:30 15:05 |
Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: Merlin_D5X4071-BosqueDelApache |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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