Black Merlin - Boundary Bay, BC
This bird has only one name and shares that name with a famous magician. Merlins live all around the northern hemisphere but this particular bird is from the Pacific Coast. The Black Merlin is appropriately named and it sooty from head to toe, minus some spotting on the front belly. Birds that live in the rest of the world are lighter brown, or even gray on the back. No matter the size of the falcon, they are hunting machines. Their wings are shaped to a point instead of rounded like other birds of prey, for aerodynamics and speed. Lunch today was and unlucky phalarope that had stopped on Boundary Bay during migration.