https://preview.redd.it/4pxdamopbsa61.jpg?width=4800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ec5599e511af2768aa7c77f31c2901affd104e13
Location: Los Angeles, CA
This guy lives in my neighborhood and likes to fly around and scare the crap out of my Scrub Jay buddies. Iβve always thought he was a Prairie Falcon, but today he sat on a pole near me for a while and made this noise (see video) and now Iβm not so sure. He definitely looks like a Prairie Falcon, but when I search online for their calls, I canβt find anything that sounds like him. When I search for Merlin bird calls, I found recordings that sound like him, so maybe thatβs what he is? When I look at images of Merlins online, none of them seem to look like him.
Video is here. Iβve also included an image of a Prairie Falcon that he looks identical to: https://imgur.com/gallery/QVvLeV6
Merlin bird call: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Merlin/sounds
Iβm hoping someone here can tell from the video what he is. Unfortunately I havenβt been able to get a good photo of him.
Anyone have some experience with Prairie falcons? What was it like manning/training? What Game did you catch? I know they have a reputation, but they are one of my favorite raptors and I would love to fly one someday.
