Debbie Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 Is this a Merlin? Photographed Last week, Northern Cal mid morning, sac wildlife area. Thank you 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneat Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 Pretty sure this is a Red-Tailed Hawk. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 (edited) That is a Red-tailed Hawk with that "belly band". Also notice how bulky it is. A Merlin (which is a falcon and not a hawk) would be much, much smaller and have larger eyes compared to its head, yellow skin around the eyes, pale eyebrows, dark "sideburns", streaking all the way up the breast, and wide dark tail bands. Edited March 16, 2020 by The Bird Nuts 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefferson Shank Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 Agree with Red-tailed Hawk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 Agreed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Leukering Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 Field guides illustrate these species well. I don't know what would have sent you down the Merlin rabbit hole, but the only things that your bird shares with Merlin are yellow toes and dark eyes, and Merlins have nearly black eyes, not dark brown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbie Posted March 16, 2020 Author Share Posted March 16, 2020 Thank you all I guess I was hoping it was a Merlin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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