It took this one at 104th street at boundary bay. I had people telling me it was a Merlin, people telling me it was a Perigrine Falcon, and people telling me it was a Prairie Falcon. Now that I think about it, I think it might be a Prairie. Any other opinions?

_________________
Liron

Bird photography equipment
Canon EOS 60D
Canon EF 400mm f5.6L USM
Sigma Flash & Vello Flash Bracket

http://lironsnaturephotography.com
http://lironsnaturephotogalleries.yolasite.com/
http://flickr.com/photos/lirons-nature-photography

Merlin

A merlin, you can see the dark bands on it's undertail in the last shot. Here is a shot of a Prairie Falcon from Burnaby Lake a few weeks ago. You can see it is much larger.


Prairie Falcon by Canonshooterman, on Flickr


Prairie Falcon by Canonshooterman, on Flickr

_________________
Mike Baker

http://mikebakerphotography.zenfolio.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/canonshooterman/

Mike, that is a juvenile peregrine, probably a Tundra due to the light crown.

I was thinking that but Jess Findlay was there with me and he said he was sure it was a Prairie Falcon especially since in hunted like a Prairie. The fact that the tail was long is why I suspected Peregrine.

_________________
Mike Baker

http://mikebakerphotography.zenfolio.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/canonshooterman/

Mike. Prairies are a total different colour and have quite large heads compared to Peregrines.

This is a Prairie Falcon, because it has a white line over the eye.

I can tell you this is a Peregrine. Don't believe me post the picture on the bird forum http://www.birdforum.net/ and see what they say. Peregrines like all birds may not necessarily fit into a narrow definition. Remember that there are 3 different subspecies of peregrine in Canada and here in B.C. we get them all. Some like our local peregrines and where subspecies overlap are intergrades and can show many different colourings. What is this bird, according to your definition it's a Prairie when in fact it's a Tundra bird from the east coast.



Photo by Grace Scalzo http://www.gracesgallery.smugmug.com

I notice that the bird appears to have a color band of some type. Any chance this is a falconers bird? To be honest, I think it looks a bit odd for a tundrius Peregrine or a Prairie Falcon. Maybe it's a human created hybrid of some kind?

Guy L. Monty
Nanoose Bay, Vancouver Island, BC

Guy, if it was a falconers bird it would have anklets on, not just a band. To be sure I'll check with the president of the BCFA to see if anyone has a lost bird out there.

Well, usually, yes it would, but not always. I have seen Saker crosses and a Prairie Falcon in the past which had what were obviously non-government bands on them, and no jesses.

I'm not saying that these bands are one type or another, as I can't see them very well, I was just throwing out a possibility.

Since you are here, what is your opinion on the wing length of the bird in the photo? It seems short for a Peregrine. Of course, it is a juvenile, but still.....? Just wondering what you think.

Guy L. Monty
Nanoose Bay, Vancouver Island, BC

All falconry birds by law must have anklets on. I see what you are saying about wing length and when I blow the picture up I see what I think is a tail mount transmitter on the bird in the second picture. This may indeed be a hybrid and with the length of the tail must have Saker in it. Unfortunately we can't get a good enough look at the tail to see if it has the tell tale spots of the Saker hybrid. I don't know of anyone that is making Peregrine/Sakers so if it is a hybrid it must be a Gyr/Saker. I would like to know how big this bird was. We do get falconry birds from WA state every once in a while but I have not heard of any lost birds there either.

Thanks for mentioning that. I downloaded the pic and increased the size of it. Have a closer look at the first photo. Whatever it it, it is hooked to the birds leg. Looks like a leather cord to me.

Guy L. Monty
Nanoose Bay, BC

[quote="Guy L. Monty"]Thanks for mentioning that. I downloaded the pic and increased the size of it. Have a closer look at the first photo. Whatever it it, it is hooked to the birds leg. Looks like a leather cord to me.

Guy, I think I see an anklet, a bell and a transmitter. Still waiting for info from the BCFA. I'll see what the guys in WA state say.

A very distant photo taken in early September at Boundary Bay.

Because the bird had much white on its cheek, I thought it might be a "Tundra" Peregrine.

Then I noticed what appears to be a band on its leg....? Does this mean anything?

_________________
MikeDB
http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdbug3/