This is an excerpt I copied from the Wikipedia listing for Merlin/Pigeon Hawk:
In particular during the breeding season, most of the prey are smallish birds weighing 1040 g (0.351.4 oz). Almost any such species will be taken, with local preferences for whatever is most abundantbe it larks (Alaudidae) pipits (Anthus) or House Sparrows (Passer domesticus)and inexperienced yearlings always a favorite. Smaller birds will generally avoid a hunting Merlin if possible. Even in the Cayman Islands (where it only occurs in winter), Bananaquits were noted to die of an apparent heart attack or stroke without being physically harmed, when a Merlin went at them and they could not escape.[12] Larger birds (e.g. Sandpipers, flickers[13] and even Rock Pigeons[14] as heavy as the Merlin itself) and other animalsinsects (especially dragonflies and moths), small mammals (especially bats and voles) and reptilescomplement its diet. These are more important outside the breeding season, when they can make up a considerable part of the Merlin's diet. But for example in Norway, while small birds are certainly the breeding Merlin's staple food, exceptional breeding success seems to require an abundance of Microtus voles.[8] Don Timmons -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
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