Sharpies do indeed chase after birds in bushes (as do Cooper's Hawks) but a Merlin never would. They hunt on the wing in the open, chasing down their prey with speed and agility in the air. This sounds like a young Sharpie to me.
Rick Sussman
Woodbine,MD
-----Original Message-----
From: Joanne Howl <>
To:
Sent: Mon, Mar 28, 2011 9:48 am
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Raptor Behavior question
This weekend we had a close-encounter with a small raptor, but it was so speedy
e're having trouble with the ID. I'm hoping the behavior might help our id
fforts.
Jon was working at my kitchen table, near a bay window. He was facing the
latform bird feeder (just off to his left on the porch) and there was a large
ush to his left and just behind and below him, outside the window. He looked
p and saw something that he first thought was a dove flying into the feeder.
t 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
e saw any facial striping (ala kestral or peregrine). He called to me, and I
aw from across the room a bird bouncing in the bush, then it flew away. To me,
he bird looked like it was the size of a dove or possibly blue jay - not a big
ird at all.
Jon is absolutely certain it was a raptor. He saw a banded tail, but he said it
idn't look as long as a sharpshin's tail, maybe more like a merlin. I know
here is a sharpie that hangs out here, but it's a bigger bird. I suppose this
ould 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?
or that matter, would a sharpshin? (I think yes on the latter, and probably on
he former, but I don't know).
Any ideas?
Thanks!
Joanne
oanne Howl, DVM
est River, MD
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