These little falcons are among my favorite wintertime raptors here in Colorado. This year, however, I have not had much luck spotting them. In fact, just Saturday I was telling my friend that I was annoyed I had not seen one yet this season.

Well, the wildlife photography gods took mercy on me the very next day. I spotted this handsome one up high on a utility pole. While not an ideal perch by any means, I was pleased for the opportunity and it did give me the pleasure of watching it dine on some other, small bird.

Merlins are just a bit larger than their more common cousin the American kestrel. They are similarly ferocious, preferring small birds as their meal of choice and being capable of snagging their prey out of the air.

Let’s call it #MerlinMonday in honor of these little falcons.

This one was hanging out on the Colorado plains last month and gave me some nice captures, including this one. Usually these guys are pretty skittish but this one was quite tolerant and seemed more curious than anything.

You can tell it is relaxed by how it is perched on a single foot with the other one tucked up to keep it warm. That is oftentimes a good gauge as to whether or not a raptor is going to pose or flee.

Now this was a fun encounter. Driving along on my photo excursion this past Sunday morning, I spotted movement not far from the road. Slowing down and taking a closer look, I see this falcon dining on a little bird it had caught for its breakfast.

I spent a good 15 minutes watching and photographing it as it showcased just how ferocious these small raptors can be. Unfortunately, I was shooting into the sun making for difficult photo conditions but the action was too much fun not to share an image of.

Here, after eating for a while, the merlin decided to take flight and move its meal to a more private location.

One of the few, good opportunities I have had this season to photograph a merlin. Such cool little raptors and they are most common during the winter months. This one was kind enough to pose quite nicely on a fence post for me late last month.

While I got some nice closeups, I kind of like this shot with a wider field of view and a hint of the snow-covered mountains off in the distance. Taken in Adams County, Colorado.

Back-to-back #falcon photos. Yesterday I posted an image of one of this little guy’s bigger cousins. The merlin is a good bit smaller than the prairie falcon but a bit bigger than the American kestrel.

This particular one was hanging out at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge near Denver, Colorado yesterday and was the first of the season I have seen. As the sun was coming over the horizon, it had staked out a spot on a sign, enjoying the warmth of the sun’s rays. It was in no rush to move and lingered just long enough to give me a couple of captures.

Winters find these birds across much of the western United States and down into Mexico. Summers are spent in Wyoming, Montana and Canada. In medieval times, they were a favorite of falconers, particularly noblewomen, that called them “lady hawks.” Catherine the Great and Mary Queen of Scots famously hunted with them.

This poor, little raptor was as caught off guard at the strength of a recent snowstorm as I was. What was supposed to amount to little more than a dusting turned into a pretty decent little storm with a good dose of wind to go with the snow.

The falcon was hanging on tight to a mullein plant, right near the road and with intention of trying to fly in the storm. This gave me a nice photo op, the best chance for pics of a merlin I have had this season yet. As snow began caking its windward side, the raptor kept its head turned, away from the onslaught of Mother Nature.

Merlins are common across much of North America, particularly during the winter months. They are quite ferocious, known for their surprise attacks on smaller, unsuspecting birds. In medieval times, they were a favorite of falconers, particularly noblewomen, that called them “lady hawks.”

I haven’t had much luck seeing these cool little raptors this winter so was happy to come across this one last weekend. It was hanging out on a utility pole not far from my house. Best of all, it was surprisingly patient with me and gave me some nice poses, including this one when it was as focused on me as I was on it.

Merlins are small raptors, a bit bigger than a Kestrel, but are just as ferocious as the other members of the falcon family. They prefer to dine on other, smaller birds, attacking with extraordinary speed and ferocity.

My first sighting of the season of one of these little raptors recently. These falcons are quite small, falling between the Kestrel and Prairie Falcon.

Here in Colorado, they are here mostly during the winter months. Summers will find them in the northern Rockies and Canada.

They prefer to dine on other, smaller birds, attacking with extraordinary speed and ferocity. This has made them a favorite of falconers, most famously hunting for Catherine the Great and Mary Queen of Scots.

This is one raptor I have not seen very much of this winter – at least not in spots where I can get a decent capture of it. This particular one was hanging out along the South Platte River north of Denver last week. I had hoped to get a bit closer to get a better view but of course it had other thoughts.

Merlins are small raptors, a bit bigger than a Kestrel, but are just as ferocious as the other members of the falcon family. They prefer to dine on other, smaller birds, attacking with extraordinary speed and ferocity.

Fast and furious might be too good adjectives to describe this little raptor. They are not easy to get pictures of as they tend to be skittish and when they take off, in my experience, they have a way of doing so at a speed and direction that makes getting a flight picture extremely difficult.

On this particularl day though, my finger was just fast enough to catch this one right as it launched into the air. I’m pleased with the image as it is very sharp and showcases the flight form of this falcon and its small but undoubtedly sharp talons – by far the best flight capture I have gotten of one of these.

Merlins are small raptors, a bit bigger than a Kestrel, but are just as ferocious as the other members of the falcon family. They prefer to dine on other, smaller birds, attacking with extraordinary speed and ferocity.