Feeding on a Sora. Identified as a female by Hans Peeters based on its relatively small head. I thought the pale primary tips might be useful in aging this Merlin but apparently it is not possible to distinguish juveniles from adult females in this species. This is a fairly dark individual and I wondered if it might be an example of the very dark race from the Pacific Northwest F. c. suckleyi, the "Black Merlin." However, the tail pattern suggests the widespread boreal race F. c. columbarius which is a migrant and winter visitor to this area. As usual, corrections are welcome.
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS.