Fort Collins City Park on 3/15/21

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DAVID A LEATHERMAN

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Mar 17, 2021, 12:59:09 PM3/17/21
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Yesterday at Fort Collins City Park I was checking Sheldon Lake from the boardwalk when a small falcon flew past carrying prey.  I tracked this bird down in an elm northeast of the lake and discovered a very dark Merlin eating what I think was a mostly headless European Starling (blackish bird with speckles and long pink legs with giant pink feet).  As with accipiters, apparently the sweetbreads get consumed first.

I am thinking this is a dark (Pacific) subspecies, which I've only seen a couple times in Colorado.  Any comments on whether it is a Pacific vs. Taiga welcome.  I definitely don't think this individual is our typical Prairie subspecies.

 


  

The storm seems to have pushed a good number of Cassin's Finches into the City Park/Grandview Cemetery area.  The Spotted Towhee (two of them) that have wintered in the block of neighborhood east of the cemetery are singing off and on.  Big infusion of robins of late.  Tree damage has been significant but the moisture will soon create 6-foot-tall daffodils I suspect.

As an aside, I was told my presentation given recently to Fort Collins Audubon Society about the cemetery was recorded and put on YouTube.  For anyone interested who was unable to attend live, go to the FCAS website for access details.

Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins

John Shenot

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Mar 17, 2021, 1:41:29 PM3/17/21
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Dave et al.,

I photographed a very dark Merlin a few miles from there (Prospect Ponds) in January that I also thought might be Pacific race, but lacking your experience and ID skills I was reluctant to report it as such. See photo on eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S79421827. Maybe it's the same bird and it's been hanging around all winter? What's the normal range for a wintering Merlin?

John Shenot
Fort Collins, CO

Susan Rosine

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Mar 17, 2021, 2:50:43 PM3/17/21
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Here's a confirmed Black Merlin I photographed at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR (Adams County) back on April 17, 2021. Hope the photos help.

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Susan Rosine

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Mar 17, 2021, 2:53:08 PM3/17/21
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CORRECTION the year was 2020
Susan
Brighton 

Nicholas Komar

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Mar 17, 2021, 3:05:30 PM3/17/21
to Susan Rosine, Colorado Birds
I don’t think any of the three merlins photographed in this thread qualify as Black (Pacific) Merlin.  Sibley depicts Bblack Merlin as having more black than white on underparts from chest to vent and an almost completely black helmet. I think these are female Taiga merlins on the dark end of the spectrum. 

Nick Komar
Fort Collins
On Mar 17, 2021, at 12:53 PM, Susan Rosine <u5b2...@gmail.com> wrote:



Doug Ward

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Mar 17, 2021, 10:48:15 PM3/17/21
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Wanted to throw my two bits in on this Merlin discussion as I’m fortunate enough to get to experience both “Taiga” (Falco columbarius columbarius) and “Black” Merlins (F.c. suckleyi) fairly regularly.  The “Taiga” subspecies is the common bird we have around in North Idaho where we split time, and can say fairly definitively all of the photos shared here are not of typical “Taiga”s , but rather more closely resemble “Black”s.  “Taiga” Merlins always give a warmer appearance as most show reddish brown to brown markings on the underparts, and dark bluish grey to brown upper parts depending on age and sex.  “Black”s on the other hand always seem cold dark grey to sooty without much if any warm hues at any age – think “Harlan’s” Red-tail vibe.  There was “Black” Merlin one fall at the Vancouver, BC airport (apparently liked to hunt the taxi way used by flights to and from Seattle; saw several times) which looked very much like the bird Dave had up at Fort Collins City Park; given the amount of white and narrow streaking, thinking an immature bird.

 

While on the topic of unusual raptors, we had what was possibly an adult “KRIDER’S” RED-TAILED HAWK  at Huston Park (SW Denver, Denver Co.) this afternoon (17 Mar.’21) which would be WAY out of place, so still consternating.  Initially noticed as it was being harassed by a couple of antagonistic crows and realized how pale the bird was, so started thinking light phase “Harlan’s”.  However to my point above, this guy seemed “warm” colored, then when it finally flushed, noted pale, almost white, pinkish tail, pale head, white “flash” to the primary bases, well defined, though short patagial markings, and almost entirely white underparts save a faint rusty brown belly band – pretty much a Ferruginous Hawk in a Red-tail body.  Never saw it’s back well due to light, and couldn’t gauge pale brown vs greyish tone, so still could have been a “Harlan’s” or maybe a hybrid.  Will continue to consternate.

 

In any case the Merlins you guys saw are great birds for Colorado, so glad you are keeping the vicarious birding rolling.

 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day,

Doug

Denver



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Doug Ward

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Mar 17, 2021, 11:07:35 PM3/17/21
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Guys,

 

Sorry, need to back track a bit.  Took another look at Susan’s Merlin from the Arsenal after my own email came through, and have to agree with Nick here, think that bird was actually a “Taiga”, though a certainly a dark one.  Note how the markings on its underparts have that “warm”, brownish cast, not a “Black” trait.  I do think both John and Dave’s birds lean more towards the “Black” end of the spectrum, particularly the Fort Collis bird; the full black helmet mark quoted for “Black” doesn’t always hold, particularly for young birds.  Again, sorry for the confusion, but do enjoy this forum for these types of discussions.

 

Barred tail between legs,

Doug

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