Pigeon Hawk. by Gary Helm Merlin is a small species of hawk found across the US and parts of Eurasia. The birds live and breed in the Arctic region, migrating south in the winter. Merlins are typically bluish-grey on the back but there is considerable variation amongst the breeding populations. The undersides can range anywhere from a light brown to a golden orange and are heavily streaked with black and dark brown. Because of the variation between the different migratory and breeding populations there is much debate as to whether American and European merlins are the same species. The Merlin is a bird of prey that was once known in North America colloquially as a pigeon hawk. The female Merlin is considerably larger than the male. Such sexual dimorphism is common among raptors; it allows males and females to hunt different prey animals and decreases the territory size needed to feed a mated pair. Merlins are well known for fiercely attacking any birds of prey that they encounter, even adult eagles. Breeding Merlin pairs will frequently hunt cooperatively, with one bird flushing the prey toward its mate. The Merlin will readily take prey that is flushed by other causes, and can for example be seen tagging along after Sharp-shinned hawks to catch birds that escape the Sharp-shinn’s attack and fly into the open air. The Merlin is quite unafraid, and will readily attack anything that moves conspicuously. Merlins have even been observed trying to “”catch”” automobiles and trains. Smaller birds will generally avoid a hunting Merlin if possible. Even in the Cayman Islands (where it only occurs in winter), Bananaquits were noted to die of an apparent heart attack or stroke, without being physically harmed, when a Merlin went at them and they could not escape. Adult Merlins may be preyed on by larger raptors, especially Peregrine Falcons, eagle-owls (e.g., Great Horned Owl), and larger Accipiter hawks (e.g., Northern Goshawk). In general however, carnivorous birds avoid Merlins due to their aggressiveness and agility I found this one in Osceola County, Florida. https://flic.kr/p/2hJ6CsU
