[obol] Need ID Help - Most Likely a Sharp-shinned Hawk at Sallys Bend

[Cindy Ashy]

First, thanks to everyone who provided ID help.

Some of you suggested the possibility of a Merlin
which prompts me to ask a couple more questions. I did
consider the possibility of a Merlin but decided
against it because:

1. In Sibley, 3 morphs are shown. The "Pacific" morph
is very dark, much darker than the raptor I saw. The
one I saw would look more like the "Prairie" morph.
So, I'd like to know if Merlins on the coast ever come
in the light morph?

2. From the illustrations in Sibley as well as on the
net, it appeared to me that the tail on a sharpie was
considerably longer proportionate to the body and also
in how far it extended beyond the tips of the folded
wings than what was shown for the Merlin. So, I'd like
to ask if what you see in nature is more
variable...and if there is overlap in how far the tail
would extend on these 2 species?

3. One person said that the behavior of the raptor
hugging the ground as it flew away sounded more like a
merlin than a sharpie. Do others agree?

Thanks again for the help.

Cindy Ashy


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