Merlin with European Starling by golfpic

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Merlin with European Starling

The starling was still alive when caught. You can see it struggling to get away. There are some of the starling's feathers visible on the back of the merlin as it starts to pluck the bird.

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golfpic		03-May-2025 17:02
Thanks. The starling is considered an invasive species in North America. It was brought over from Europe in the late 1880's. Rumour has it that the first person to bring over the starling to North America wanted to introduce all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare's writings to the US and Canada. The starling is an important part of the food chain for many birds of prey.

Missed Opportunities		03-May-2025 10:04
Nice capture - we need more Merlins for sure!

golfpic		03-May-2025 10:03
Thanks Chuck. Right place, right time. It was exciting to see up close.

Chuck Kling		03-May-2025 09:38
Beautiful capture in great light !!

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