Mystery raptor

[Wetlander]

Hello Gord, Lynne etc.
I do have a few more photos of the mystery hawk/falcon. I hope this may provide more info and angles to look at. These are all the photos I was able to get before it flew off. If this gives anyone some clues... please let me know.
The sighting was in March of this year.

ps. Lynne, this is my 6th season birding. It seemed like a falcon, but I've been wrong before and want to get it right...

[lynnmiller]

Thankyou for the additional raptor photos. The 3rd and 4th photos do give the impression of a falcon. The wingtips do seem to extend well down the length of the tail and the malar stripe is evident on those two pictures. Gyrfalcon is a good bet for this bird considering the large size. The malar stripe is right for Gyr, wrong for Peregrine. The Prairie Falcon has a similar malar stripe as Gyr, but is considerably smaller in size and is less likely to be found in our area.

[Wetlander]

Thanks for the info, Lynn. I was wondering about gyrfalcon vs. prairie falcon as well.

[Gord]

Good additional shots Wetlander!

Everything but the size works for Merlin to me. The bulk of a gyrfalcon doesnt seem to be there to me. I think I see a banded tail with light bands on the one second from the bottom. I think prairie falcons have dark bands and are much browner overall. The breast pattern, colour in general and facial expression is good for Merlin as well.

Not to insult your judgement of size Wetlander, but could it possibly be just a little smaller than you thought? Hard to say by the branches but if you didnt say larger than a peregrine, Id be very confident in saying Merlin.

Ah, such fun looking at pictures for ID! I love it! Thanks for sharing Wetlander and also thanks to Lynn for great insight as well.

[Wetlander]

Hard to judge. I thought it was peregrin size, but merlin is possible. And I thought photos would solve ID problems for me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!