Merlin
I posted a rather distant photo of a male Merlin recently www.flickr.com/photos/timmelling/51994900253/in/dateposted/ but this is a cropped version of the same bird. I see Merlins in flight over the Peak District moors fairly regularly, and see birds perched at a distance, but this was my first view of a close perched male. Merlins are Britain's smallest birds of prey and males are noticeably smaller than females (180g v 230g). They usually fly fast and low over the moors where they nest, doggedly chasing small birds following every twist and turn of their prey. Merlins are falcons and DNA studies have showed that falcons are not related to other birds of prey such as hawks, buzzards, harriers and eagles. Their closest relatives are actually parrots and the small bill on this bird does give it a slight resemblance to Budgerigar.
Merlin
I posted a rather distant photo of a male Merlin recently www.flickr.com/photos/timmelling/51994900253/in/dateposted/ but this is a cropped version of the same bird. I see Merlins in flight over the Peak District moors fairly regularly, and see birds perched at a distance, but this was my first view of a close perched male. Merlins are Britain's smallest birds of prey and males are noticeably smaller than females (180g v 230g). They usually fly fast and low over the moors where they nest, doggedly chasing small birds following every twist and turn of their prey. Merlins are falcons and DNA studies have showed that falcons are not related to other birds of prey such as hawks, buzzards, harriers and eagles. Their closest relatives are actually parrots and the small bill on this bird does give it a slight resemblance to Budgerigar.