Merlin

This stealthy hunter was formerly known as the Pigeon Hawk, not for its hunting of pigeons but for its resemblance of them in flight. The bird’s high speed and agility enable this small falcon to quickly snatch birds in flight and along the shoreline. Not much larger than an American Kestrel, it is sometimes mistaken for a Peregrine Falcon.

1. Michigan Bar Road, Rancho Murieta, California

1. Michigan Bar Road, Rancho Murieta, California

1. Michigan Bar Road, Rancho Murieta, California

1. Michigan Bar Road, Rancho Murieta, California

Merlin locations of sightings