The Merlin
This raptor is the wizard of the skies.
By: Jerry Poindexter
Photography by Glenn Bartley
The merlin (Falco columbarious) is a stocky falcon, measuring between 10 and 14 inches in length. It varies in color geographically and by gender. The merlin has long and tapered wings that propel it to great speed. It likes to hunt in open territory and is so agile it can take its prey in flight.
The reference for the pattern and painting notes are from study skins provided by Eastern Washington University. The study skins I used varied from a dark umber to a dark slate gray. The outstanding feature is the dark quills that really stand out on this falcon.
Read the rest of this article in Wildfowl Carving Magazine’s Winter 2015 issue!