Fantastic ID guides ,I'm mad-keen on bird-watching and have been for decades,but I still struggle at times to narrow a sighting down to one (the correct) species.These guides are just wonderful.
I like the mention of behavioral clues like the hovering, most other guides only cover calls and visual clues like markings or shape, but if the bird isn't chatty and just zooming by, those alone aren't too helpful.
Many thanks for this video! I was puzzling over what type of hawk has set up a roost in our barn next to an occupied Barn Owl box, and had narrowed it down to either a Kestrel or a Merlin, and know that both are currently active in our region - but this video left no doubt in my mind at all. It's a Kestrel. It was fascinating to see the Kestrel fly out of the open-sided barn, followed by the Barn owl just seconds later, this afternoon - I wondered why we were finding pellets that were two distinct sizes, now I know!
HI Debbie. Kestrel and Merlin are falcons. Hawks are different birds of prey anatomically with rounded 'open fingered' wider wings in flight and most often fly at lower speeds. Falcons have those distinctive sharper wings in silhouette and a rounded head. Hawks usually bigger also with some exceptions. A good example of a standard hawk is a buzzard.
Just saw a Merlin flying down a roadside ditch in rural Northwest Minnesota. Didn't know if it was a Merlin or Kestrel, but it definitely wasn't one of the larger hawks and eagles in the area. I never knew Kestrels hovered and now I'd really like to see it.
I was feeding the birds in my garden when a Merlin flew right by me and tried to grab one of the sparrows. I'm not 100% sure it was a Merlin though. Didn't get a propper look on it since it was freaking fast! But the shape and flying style looked exactly like the one showed in this video, and it was really small, about the same size of a pidgeon.
Here in Western North America, the Merlin is significantly larger than the Kestril. Where both are present, the Kestril is pushed to outside areas by very aggressive territorial Merlin behavior. Merlins around here fly like fighter pilots, though catching birds on the wing can be a surprisingly delicate snatch from behind and above. In urban areas they can be irritatingly noisy.
This is a nice comparison/contrast although when you digress to the Sparrowhawk it becomes most confusing.. “ Merlin is a much smaller falcon than the kestrel” . Then “ male and female Merlins are similar size to male and female Sparrowhawk! ? We know Sparrowhawk are closely if not BIGGER than the Kestrel… what am I missing?
@@thegeordierambler4373 That's what I thought after she said that the Merlin was mistle thrush sized. Either she knows some huge thrushes, or some teeny sparrowhawks.
If only there was also a bigger species of Falco similar to this that would be the most awesome and beautiful falcon. Same as the Goshawk-Sparrowhawk duet.
@@customfibreoptics the size of a peregrine but with same plumage colors and patterns etc like the Kestrel that is. This bird seems like an work of art a gouache painting.
Sant Edward's and Sant Clarie Children's Culure Mixed Media and sport Department Roundtable Congress. The Mmarlin sould have been in Pab as it celebrate the 🎩magic of Children.
Seen my first merlin this morning/ really chuffed
Excellent video. Many thanks for this information.
Love, love, love these ID guides, they're so useful! Please do keep 'em coming ;-)
Thank you for your support, we'll do our best to keep producing BTO Bird ID videos on a regular basis.
@ BTOvideo at flight, they can be mistaken for Parrots flying because of longer wings and tail feathers
Fantastic ID guides ,I'm mad-keen on bird-watching and have been for decades,but I still struggle at times to narrow a sighting down to one (the correct) species.These guides are just wonderful.
I like the mention of behavioral clues like the hovering, most other guides only cover calls and visual clues like markings or shape, but if the bird isn't chatty and just zooming by, those alone aren't too helpful.
Many thanks for this video! I was puzzling over what type of hawk has set up a roost in our barn next to an occupied Barn Owl box, and had narrowed it down to either a Kestrel or a Merlin, and know that both are currently active in our region - but this video left no doubt in my mind at all. It's a Kestrel.
It was fascinating to see the Kestrel fly out of the open-sided barn, followed by the Barn owl just seconds later, this afternoon - I wondered why we were finding pellets that were two distinct sizes, now I know!
HI Debbie. Kestrel and Merlin are falcons. Hawks are different birds of prey anatomically with rounded 'open fingered' wider wings in flight and most often fly at lower speeds. Falcons have those distinctive sharper wings in silhouette and a rounded head. Hawks usually bigger also with some exceptions. A good example of a standard hawk is a buzzard.
Excellent video very informative and helpful. Many thanks for sharing.
Thank you for posting this. It is very helpful.
Just saw a Merlin flying down a roadside ditch in rural Northwest Minnesota. Didn't know if it was a Merlin or Kestrel, but it definitely wasn't one of the larger hawks and eagles in the area. I never knew Kestrels hovered and now I'd really like to see it.
excellent - thanks very much.
Love birds xxxx
I was feeding the birds in my garden when a Merlin flew right by me and tried to grab one of the sparrows. I'm not 100% sure it was a Merlin though. Didn't get a propper look on it since it was freaking fast! But the shape and flying style looked exactly like the one showed in this video, and it was really small, about the same size of a pidgeon.
Nice video dear
I was like oh my gosh is it hunting another kestrel?! Until i saw the tilte
3:49 “…Habit and (what?) can prevent confusion” I can’t work out what that word is, heard it in many of these (excellent) BTO ID videos.
Giss is the general overall characteristic of a bird ,movement and behaviour
@@jclack522 thank you
Here in Western North America, the Merlin is significantly larger than the Kestril. Where both are present, the Kestril is pushed to outside areas by very aggressive territorial Merlin behavior. Merlins around here fly like fighter pilots, though catching birds on the wing can be a surprisingly delicate snatch from behind and above. In urban areas they can be irritatingly noisy.
Good to know
True...Merlins in N. America can weigh twice as much as the Kestrel... or Sparrow Hawk as it is referred to in America.
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This is a nice comparison/contrast although when you digress to the Sparrowhawk it becomes most confusing.. “ Merlin is a much smaller falcon than the kestrel” . Then “ male and female Merlins are similar size to male and female Sparrowhawk! ? We know Sparrowhawk are closely if not BIGGER than the Kestrel… what am I missing?
@@thegeordierambler4373 That's what I thought after she said that the Merlin was mistle thrush sized. Either she knows some huge thrushes, or some teeny sparrowhawks.
If only there was also a bigger species of Falco similar to this that would be the most awesome and beautiful falcon. Same as the Goshawk-Sparrowhawk duet.
Peregrine?
@@customfibreoptics the size of a peregrine but with same plumage colors and patterns etc like the Kestrel that is. This bird seems like an work of art a gouache painting.
Daniel William it's a sparrowhawk
What's the different between Merlin and Hobby?? Confused at their Colouration (Merlin) and (Hobby),not (Kestrel) because it has Red backed wings.
Sant Edward's and Sant Clarie
Children's Culure Mixed Media and sport Department
Roundtable Congress.
The Mmarlin sould have been in Pab
as it celebrate the 🎩magic of Children.
Sginied By Dhipcey Amar aged 46
©️Friday May 212021
Great video! Great chanell!
Kestlers and Hobbys are my favourite birds
You have like and sub
If you cloud make film about swallows?????
+Ptaker RC Hi PTaker, see our video on Hirundines (including Swallow) - czcams.com/video/klya9oEK57M/video.html&lc=z12wu1grswysspkft22stzbz2z3kz3vjt04
Did you just call the Peregrine stocky and bulky? Hah.
zrubcje ptaki żebym was miał dobrze
Why don't you say "THE Kestrel" and "THE Merlin"? You sound so affected.