Species:

Merlin (Falco columbarius)

Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus)

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Length (cm):
25-30
25-26
Wingspan (cm):
50-62
38-40
Weight (gram):
125-300
120-160
Size group:
Thrush-size
Thrush-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Smallest 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:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-sound:Thijs Fijen, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Green back. Head mostly grey with only a slim black moustache stripe, and underparts rather greyish too. Smaller than Green Woodpecker, and bill less heavy. Male with small red patch on forehead. Flight and movements more agile than Green Woodpecker.

Sound:

Mostly heard during the breeding season. Song similar to Green Woodpecker, but general tone is soft and melancholic. Phrases consists of series of 5-8 clear notes falling both in pitch and intensity, and with diagnostic ritardando at the end. Short "kek" uttered if excited. Rarely drums.

Song:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Raptors
Silhouette
Tree-clinging
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file