39 Taiga Merlin

• A group of Merlin is called a; Brace / Leash / Illusion.
• I would like to see an Illusion of Merlin. This very fast bird of pray also called a Pigeon Hawk because of the similarity in flight of the now extinct Passenger Pigeon, is fast, very fast.
• One of the main causes of death is crashing into things at high speed.
• This small falcon is a fiercely protective of its territory and nest.   It will fight off all comers including the Bald Eagle.  Interestingly though it is very friendly to humans.
• Outside Willow's house this flash of speed swooped in and grabbed a Yellow Bellied Flycatcher right in front of us and was gone with its victim before we knew what had just happened.  The next day he  was back, this time he grabbed a Starling but because of the Starlings size had to stab it repeatedly with its talons. This gave us a real good opportunity to identify it.
• There are several types of Merlin in North America; Tundra, Black, Prairie, Coastal Forest and the Taiga.  We were so excited having the opportunity to see this one twice.