Adult male (Taiga) - ML303424671 — Adult male (Taiga) © Brian Sullivan eBird S9876594 Macaulay Library ML 27354311

Adult male (Prairie) - ML303425061 — Adult male (Prairie) © Andy Bankert

Adult (Black) - ML70585581 — Adult (Black) © Ryan Merrill

Female/immature (Taiga) - ML70585501 — Female/immature (Taiga) © Alix d'Entremont

Female/immature (Prairie) - ML70585561 — Female/immature (Prairie) © Joel Adams

Adult male (Taiga) - ML70585571 — Adult male (Taiga) © Tim Lenz

Female/immature (Taiga) - ML303418411 — Female/immature (Taiga) © Alex Lamoreaux

Female/immature (Taiga) - ML70585521 — Female/immature (Taiga) © Jonathan Eckerson

Adult (Black) - ML303411611 — Adult (Black) © Joachim Bertrands | Ornis Birding Expeditions

Adult male (Pallid) - ML303419171 — Adult male (Pallid) © Prabhakar Manjunath

Female/immature (Pallid) - ML303412161 — Female/immature (Pallid) © Andrey Kovalenko

Adult male (Eurasian) - ML303420581 — Adult male (Eurasian) © Yann Muzika

Habitat - ML70585531 — Habitat © Scott Ramos

Merlin Falco columbarius

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Identification

Small and fierce falcon. Dark above and paler below, with streaking on the underparts; darkness of plumage varies geographically. Feeds mainly on birds captured in flight. Found in a variety of habitats from grasslands, open forests, and especially coastal areas with shorebirds. Flies powerfully on pointed wings with quick, continuous wingbeats.