What is this raptor?

[Beth Goffe]

This was taken at Poet's Walk Park near Rhinebeck, NY last May. After checking the field guides, I'm pretty sure it's a merlin but wanted to check with the experts here. :o I cropped it pretty severely so the field marks are a bit clearer because he/she was fairly high up in the tree. Thanks for the help!

[John Chardine]

Beth- My first guess was a merlin before I looked at your commentary, so we agree.

[Beth Goffe]

Thanks very much, John. Would you go as far to say that it is a female due to its brown vs. gray coloration?

[John Chardine]

I would agree Beth. The male would be lighter and grayer on the back.

[Beth Goffe]

Many thanks, John. This was a lifer for me!

[John Chardine]

Excellent! Very exciting to see a species for the first time. In many areas, raptors such as Merlins, Peregrine Falcons and Bald Eagles are now much more common than they used to be in the 1970s, when they appeared to be affected by pesticides. May you see many more Merlins Beth!