When I wrote about the Rice County Merlin, I explained that three races of Merlin are described. I hesitantly concluded that our bird was a taiga race due to its overall dark coloration, creamy eye-stripe, and buffy breast. Our more recent individual seems clearly to be a Prairie Merlin. Note the very pale sides of the face, the white stripe above the eye, and the non-buffy, white breast markings.
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