Based on its unique appearance, the light-colored Merlin in Edison is
thought to be the same bird that has been in town and using those same
trees over the last four winters (2012 included).

However, it is not banded so we can't be completely, 100% certain.

It is a bird of some contention. Early on, Gregg Thompson got some of the
best photos of this bird (exceptional really) and had questions about its
subspecific identity which I think he expressed here on Tweeters. Some
think it is typical of a Richardson's Merlin, the Prairie-parkland form
that is usually found in Montana, N/S Dakota, Alberta, Saskatchewan and
elsewhere to the east.

Bill Clark looked at it last year and concurred with that probability.

I disagree. I think it is more like the pale form originally described on
the west coast as a Western or Bendire's Merlin. This designation is no
longer used these days which is, to me, unfortunate as its significance has
been lost over time..

In addition, I have never seen what I thought was a definite Richardson's
Merlin here in western Washington. I have trapped and banded them at Entiat
Ridge above Leavenworth and I believe Kent Woodruff has also caught some at
Chelan Ridge, but never over here. They are known to occur in the Spokane
area but they are, at most, very rarely observed in western WA.

To me, it seems unlikely that a Merlin from the dry eastern regions would
fly west, across the Cascades, to winter in Edison for several winters in a
row. Certainly stranger things have happened but it seems unlikely to me.

Also, Richardson's are not recorded as breeding to the north of us in BC.
Only Taiga Merlins (*Falco columbarius columbarius*) are thought to nest to
the north.

However, there is an intriguing comment in the *Birds of British Columbia*.
The authors state, "There are also two specimens of very pale Merlins both
from Atlin: 23 April 1931, 12 September 1930. Beebe (1974) suggests that
the far northern records of *richardsonii-*like Merlins may represent
either a discontinuous extension of range of true *richardsonii* or the
development of a separate population of Merlins with *richardsonii *plumage
characteristics."

I did make a concerted effort last year to see how long this bird stayed
in Edison and it remained all the way past mid-April, a time when I thought
it should have been at its breeding site. Local breeding Merlins in western
WA are usually at or near their nests right now.

BNA Merlin account lists egglaying in NA during April as well. Of
course, Merlins nest later the farther north you go.

To my knowledge, the Edison bird has not nested locally.

I have always suspected, *and I stress suspected*, that this is a northern
breeder. For argument, let's say Alaska. That might explain the late
departure date we are seeing here.

To add to the controversy, we observed another very pale brown Merlin on
Samish Island over the last two weekends on some FRG raptor field trips.
This bird is at least as pale as the Edison bird. I suppose they could be
the same bird since the two locations are only 2 miles apart across superb
Dunlin foraging habitat but, as posted earlier here, the Edison bird was
present in town for much of the Bird Festival weekend and was seen there by
several observers.

Banding the bird would certainly help.

Perhaps other observers have more information or ideas regarding this
enigmatic little falcon.

BTW, she really likes House Finches. Now if we can only get her to start
taking all these Eurasian Collared Doves that are invading Edison.....

Bud Anderson
Falcon Research Group
Box 248
Bow, WA 98232
(360) 757-1911
falconresearch at gmail.com
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