Proksa Park, Berwyn: Is this a juvenile kestrel?

[John W. Wall]

I'm from out of state and have never seen an immature kestrel, and I thought this bird was too big anyway, and that it looked more like a prairie falcon (which I've also never seen). My Merlin app came up with peregrine, then it drew a blank, and on a third try it said kestrel. I have a couple of still shots and some video with it calling in this Google Photos folder.

Thanks in advance for any help.

--John

[John W. Wall]

New link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/WmicBS6v7McDBNcG7

[Walter Marcisz]

John,

This is actually a Merlin (the bird, not the app) in every way (call, faint sideburns, gray upperparts, heavily streaked underparts, distinctive tail pattern).

Sort of ironic that the Merlin app did not recognize it.

Walter Marcisz

Chicago, Cook Co.

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[John W. Wall]

Thank you! That is funny about the app. I'm glad I finally know what a merlin looks like.