Merlin Identifying Features

dark brown irises
yellow orbital ring
single stripe down face (can be pale)
white throat
long thin white or tawny supercilium

stocky build
heavy brown streaking on underparts
legs feathered

bluish mouth
(fledgling shown)

(Photo of tail needed)

black tail with 3-4 narrow white or gray bands
and white terminal band

Photo by Pat Fisher	dark brown irises yellow orbital ring single stripe down face (can be pale) white throat long thin white or tawny supercilium
Photo by Pat Fisher	stocky build heavy brown streaking on underparts legs feathered
Photo by Marge Gibson	bluish mouth (fledgling shown)
(Photo of tail needed)	black tail with 3-4 narrow white or gray bands and white terminal band