>At the top of our hemlock tree in Inglewood (NE end of Lake Washington) was
>a small falcon feeding on a smaller bird Saturday. After studying it for a
>long time in the scope, I believe it to have been a merlin. Do they come
>this far south?? I did not expect to see one in the Seattle area. It was a
>very dark, small falcon with a very thin white line over its eye. Back and
>tail feathers were a very dark grey-black, with only the faintest dark grey
>stripes visible on the tail. Underfeathers at the base of the tail were
>medium brown, and the feathers at the top of the legs and on the breast were
>scalloped brown and white. It did not have the head markings of a peregrine
> - the head was very black with the tiny white stripe mentioned above and no
>apparent "moustaches". Also, aren't the breast feathers of a peregrine more
>grey than brown?
>
>I would be interested in any comments on other merlins seen in the Seattle
>area or on my bird identification skills (or lack thereof). If I'm right,
>it would be a neat addition to my yard list!
>
>Teresa Michelsen
>King County, WA
>temi461 at ecy.wa.gov

Teresa, I've always considered the Merlin a city bird, and many papers have
been written about its habits in urban settings. When I lived in more open
parts of the city, such as Wallingford, Merlins were the hawks I most
commonly saw. Now I live in a more wooded environment, so Sharp-shins are
the featured hawk, but I still see Merlins regularly. I saw one perched on
a light standard on the Aurora Ave. bridge last weekend, and another shot
right across I-5 at supersonic speed on my commute one morning recently.
Your description was perfect for the so-called "black" Merlin, Falco
columbarius suckleyi, which nests along the Northwest coast. We also have a
lot of "taiga" Merlins, Falco columbarius columbarius, here in winter.

It *is* a great bird for your yard list!

Dennis Paulson phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416