Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium passerinum)
Merlin (Falco columbarius)
Small size diagnostic. Small head in relation to body size, and distinct short white supercilia. Slightly protruding bill. Rather dark face, with only fine white markings and stern look. Juvenile lacks finely spotted crown. Bounding, woodpecker-like flight.
Sound:Calls in a clear voice, like a straight note blown on a recorder. Each note often followed by a rhythmic, trisyllabic accent a whole tone deeper than the first note.
Song:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCSmallest falcon. Male with slate grey upperparts, and pinkish buff, speckled underparts . Female dark brown above and heavily speckled below. Due to the extensive markings, the underparts give a darker impression than in Kestrel. Tail of female with dark broad bands, tail of male with broad black terminal band. Diffuse facial markings. Short wings. Silhouette similar to Peregrine, but the much faster wing beats are diagnostic. Acrobatic flight with sharp twist and turns when chasing prey. Alternating glides and bursts of wing-beats gives undulating flight.
Sound:Series of harsh "kwik-wik wik". Coarseness similar to Peregrine, but pace much quicker. Female call harsher than male. Lacking the clearer tones and attack of Kestrel.
Alarm call:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CC