Magical Merlins

Magical Merlins, edited and mostly written by Bruce Haak, an accomplished raptor biologist, bander, and Journal of Raptor Research (JRR) contributor, provides an approachable introduction to Merlin (Falco columbarius) ecology focused on North America's Pacific Northwest. This attractive book was written for falcon enthusiasts, raptor biologists, and even the casual reader interested in learning more about birds of prey. Haak and his collaborators summarize several local scientific studies of wintering and breeding Merlins and provide a thorough description of the three Merlin subspecies that occur in North America. These subspecies include the taiga Merlin (F. c. columbarius), the prairie or Richardson's Merlin (F. c. richardsonii), and the black Merlin (F. c. suckleyi). The book contains many wonderful color illustrations from numerous artists including Hans Peters, N. John Schmitt, and Carl Bass, as well as an assortment of color photographs attributed to...