"Jens Mikkel Lausten" <mlausten@worldonline.dk> wrote in
news:joWwe.57670$Fe7.189820@news000.worldonline.dk:
> Beng wrote:
>> "Jens Mikkel Lausten" <mlausten@worldonline.dk> wrote in
>> news:9JDwe.57560$Fe7.189721@news000.worldonline.dk:
>>
>>> Beng wrote:
>>>> Hi.
>>>>
>>>> This time it was a pair of falcons.
>>>>
>>>> They sounded a little different from each other, so I've included
>>>> sound from both of them.
>>>>
>>>> The pics are of same poor quality as usual
>>>>
>>>> My guess = Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
>>>>
>>>>
http://orre.mine.nu/id/id4/id4.htm
>>>>
>>>> Thanks !
>>>>
>>> This is a much better photo !
>>> Merlin male.
>>>
>>> Mikkel
>>
>> What do you base that on ???
>
>
>>
>> There were 2 birds.. the one sitting in the tree (photo) and another
>> one hovering/screaming close to me.. I could only see ONE dark band
>> on the underside of the spreadout tail.. therefore I guess Kestrel !
>
> Kestrels are not bluishgrey on the back and on the crown, they are
> reddishbrown Adult Male Merlin have also a dark subterminal tailband.
> The bird on the picture is absolutely spot on Adult Male Merlin.
> How can you tell that a bird is 29-34 cm ??
>
> From "Rovfågelsguiden" av Dick Forsman:
>
> "Den gamla stenfalkhanen är en grann fågel. Ryggen, vingtäckarna, de
> inre armpennorna och stjärten är vackert blågrå. Handpennorna och de
> yttre armpennorna är ovantill svarta, likaså stjärtens breda
> subterminalband. Från den vita strupen och nedåt är buksidan
> rostgul-vitbeige med individuelt varierande fin, svart
> längsstreckning. Hjässan är mörk. Har mörk mustaschstreck, män det är
> sällan påfallende. Andre kännetecken är det ofullständiga, rostfärgade
> nackbandet och det ljusa ögonbrynsstrecket. Trots den granna dräkten
> förfaller stenfalkshanen mörk på håll och är därför oftast svår att
> skilja från honorna och ungfåglerna."
>
>> Do Merlin male/female have different sound ?
>
> Properly.
>
>> Can you, in that case,
>> say which of my soundfiles that are the bird (male according to you)
>> on the Photo ?
>
> No, I find it very difficult just to identify the different falcon
> species on alarmcalls.
>
> Mikkel
>
Ok.. I have to go there again and try to get a photo of the hovering
one.. but it ain't easy..
The one in the tree sat there for all 20 minutes I spent there..
The 29-34 cm is just a "feeling" of the size.. I find it VERY difficult
to estimate size..
//Ben