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.
Vanuatu imperial pigeon Vanuatu imperial pigeon The Vanuatu imperial pigeon or Baker's imperial pigeon ("Ducula bakeri") is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to Vanuatu and lives in forests. It is threatened by forest clearing, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as a vulnerable species. Norman Boyd Kinnear described the species from Santo in 1928, as "Muscadivora bakeri". The specific name of this bird commemorates the British zoologist John Randal Baker, who discovered the species. The Vanuatu imperial pigeon is about long. The head and nape are sooty blue-grey, and the neck