This weekend we had a close-encounter with a small raptor, but it was so speedy we're having trouble with the ID.  I'm hoping the behavior might help our id efforts.  

Jon was working at my kitchen table, near a bay window.  He was facing the platform bird feeder (just off to his left on the porch) and there was a large bush to his left and just behind and below him, outside the window.  He looked up and saw something that he first thought was a dove flying into the feeder.  It breezed by him and dove into the bushes - but not all the way in.  

He turned and got a view of a brown back and striped tail, and did not believe he saw any facial striping (ala kestral or peregrine).   He called to me, and I saw from across the room a bird bouncing in the bush, then it flew away.  To me, the bird looked like it was the size of a dove or possibly blue jay - not a big bird at all.  

Jon is absolutely certain it was a raptor.  He saw a banded tail, but he said it didn't look as long as a sharpshin's tail, maybe more like a merlin.   I know there is a sharpie that hangs out here, but it's a bigger bird.  I suppose this could have been a really small male, but it didn't look like a sharpie to me.  

We think that it was a merlin - but would a merlin chase into a bush like this?  For that matter, would a sharpshin?  (I think yes on the latter, and probably on the former, but I don't know).    

Any ideas?  

Thanks!

Joanne


Joanne Howl, DVM

West River, MD

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