Bird identification help?

[pjaye]

Hi.
Took this shot (yes, I know it sucks, we saw him at the top of the light post and pulled over on a really busy street for a quick shot.) I cannot for the life of me figure out what it is and I haven't seen another one. He's slightly bigger than a bluejay. Help?
(apologies, these were posted on facebook for identification with no success, hence the watermark. )

 

[rodbender]

Merlin

 

[pjaye]

Ok, I've never heard of a Merlin. Off to google! (if it helps, I live in eastern Ontario)

 

[tirediron]

That's Ralph!

 

[rodbender]

Ok, I've never heard of a Merlin. Off to google! (if it helps, I live in eastern Ontario)

Merlin is like a Kestrel and you have them in you area

 

[pjaye]

That's Ralph!

So that's were Ralph went! Want him back?

 

[pjaye]

Ok, I've never heard of a Merlin. Off to google! (if it helps, I live in eastern Ontario)

Merlin is like a Kestrel and you have them in you area

I googled it and that's certainly what it looks like. Ironically, I had just spoken to a friend a couple of weeks ago about a Kestral, and said I had never seen one but was hoping some day I would. I saw this and wondered if that's what it was. But I wasn't sure. Thank you! According to the pictures I looked at, it looks like a Merlin. It's the first and only one I have ever seen.

 

[rodbender]

Ok, I've never heard of a Merlin. Off to google! (if it helps, I live in eastern Ontario)

Merlin is like a Kestrel and you have them in you area

I googled it and that's certainly what it looks like. Ironically, I had just spoken to a friend a couple of weeks ago about a Kestral, and said I had never seen one but was hoping some day I would. I saw this and wondered if that's what it was. But I wasn't sure. Thank you! According to the pictures I looked at, it looks like a Merlin. It's the first and only one I have ever seen.

I'm in Ontario too and they are around all over now it might be either a Immature Kestrel or a Female Merlin too me looks more like a Merlin

 

[pjaye]

Merlin is like a Kestrel and you have them in you area

I googled it and that's certainly what it looks like. Ironically, I had just spoken to a friend a couple of weeks ago about a Kestral, and said I had never seen one but was hoping some day I would. I saw this and wondered if that's what it was. But I wasn't sure. Thank you! According to the pictures I looked at, it looks like a Merlin. It's the first and only one I have ever seen.

I'm in Ontario too and they are around all over now it might be either a Immature Kestrel or a Female Merlin too me looks more like a Merlin

Thank you! Someone else just commented on facebook that they think it's a Merlin too. How cool. Thank you for helping identify him. I appreciated it.

 

[sm4him]

I concur, Merlin.

They are TOUGH to find and tougher to get shots of! In nearly 3 years of birding now, I've seen two of them, and gotten a picture ONE time (here). At the time I took that shot, I didn't have any idea what it was--it was SO small, I thought surely it couldn't be a raptor, but that beak is no songbird beak!! Faster than blazes, too.
Very exciting find, barb! I would LOVE another chance to photograph one.

 

[rodbender]

I googled it and that's certainly what it looks like. Ironically, I had just spoken to a friend a couple of weeks ago about a Kestral, and said I had never seen one but was hoping some day I would. I saw this and wondered if that's what it was. But I wasn't sure. Thank you! According to the pictures I looked at, it looks like a Merlin. It's the first and only one I have ever seen.

I'm in Ontario too and they are around all over now it might be either a Immature Kestrel or a Female Merlin too me looks more like a Merlin

Thank you! Someone else just commented on facebook that they think it's a Merlin too. How cool. Thank you for helping identify him. I appreciated it.

No Problem I sent you a PM

 

[pjaye]

I concur, Merlin.

They are TOUGH to find and tougher to get shots of! In nearly 3 years of birding now, I've seen two of them, and gotten a picture ONE time (here). At the time I took that shot, I didn't have any idea what it was--it was SO small, I thought surely it couldn't be a raptor, but that beak is no songbird beak!! Faster than blazes, too.
Very exciting find, barb! I would LOVE another chance to photograph one.

Really? Yay!! This little guy was just sitting on the light post looking at the traffic going by. Scott actually spotted him and pulled over quickly. I figured it was some kind of raptor with that beak, but had never seen one before. I never would have thought to google Merlin. He was still sitting there when we pulled away. Now I am *really* glad we stopped and I got this shot! Thank you!