magical merlin

This fella was busy eating on a perch this morning, plagued by yellow jackets trying to get some of his breakfast – and finally chased off by a female kestrel after eating the last morsels. What a great sighting, with really good views and light!

merlin / Laguna de Santa Rosa CA

merline / Laguna de Santa Rosa CA

merlin / Laguna de Santa Rosa CA

I’m guessing that this a male based on the blue-grey feathers on its back and upper wing coverts, the bit of rufous coloring on its chest and also because it was quite a bit smaller than the female kestrel that chased it off its perch. Females are larger and tend to have more of a brown coloring on the upperparts and lack any rufous wash.