Merlin (bird) Merlin (bird) The merlin ("Falco columbarius") is a small species of falcon from the Northern Hemisphere, with numerous subspecies throughout North America and Eurasia. A bird of prey once known colloquially as a pigeon hawk in North America, the merlin breeds in the northern Holarctic; some migrate to subtropical and northern tropical regions in winter. Males typically have wingspans of , with females being slightly larger. They are swift fliers and skilled hunters who specialize in preying on small birds in the size range of sparrows to quail. The merlin has for centuries been well regarded as a falconry bird.
Yellowish imperial pigeon Yellowish imperial pigeon The yellowish imperial pigeon ("Ducula subflavescens"), also known as the yellow-tinted imperial pigeon or Bismarck imperial pigeon (leading to easy confusion with "D. melanochroa"), is a relatively large species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to forest and woodland in the Bismarck Archipelago. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is often considered a subspecies of the Torresian imperial pigeon (which in turn sometimes is considered a subspecies of the pied imperial pigeon), but is increasingly treated as a separate species. It resembles the Torresian imperial pigeon, but has a distinctly yellow-tinged plumage and