A family of 4 or 5 raptors has nested in Tahoe Park above the playground, and I need help identifying them. I’ll have to go back with a better camera, but in the meantime if anyone who has been there recently can shed some light, my kids and I would be grateful. All I know is it is not a red tailed hawk; we see enough of those to spot them. It is a small raptor with a white belly and grey back and hood, and a striped tail. I have concluded that they are Merlins, a small falcon breed that apparently is becoming common in urban areas. Whatever they are, they are neat! Today we found a bird carcass below the nest; I imagine one of them fell and died and stray dogs ate it? Or perhaps they killed and ate a pigeon–would birds do that?
UPDATE Monday 1:00 PM: Mrs Cool and the kids snapped some awesome photos today, including some that add an air of mystery to the proceedings.
Here is a great shot of two of the birds:
Here is one highlighting the tail feathers:
And here is where things get interesting. Another carcass was discovered, and this one was tagged! “NCRC 2011” I believe.
What say you, raptor enthusiasts?
The Sac Rag 
Oh my gosh I kid you not at first I read, “whatever they are, they are meat!” and I was like, Whaaaaaa? But then I re-read and I agree now. Maybe someone at the Sacramento Zoo can confirm the breed.
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I Can’t seem to get a bigger picture of it. I got a couple raptor fanatics who could probably pick it out, but need a bigger pic.
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I tried today but they were hiding… Lots of kids at the playground…
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Hold on, let me consult my local ornithologist.
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I’m pretty sure these are Peregrine Falcons. They are the type of bird that eats other birds, and the park is basically filled with bird carcasses.
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Someone isn’t getting their pigeon back…
http://ncrc.spruz.com/
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Bird carcasses make for the best fun when tied to a string and/or a kite (“What is that attached to your kite? A bird- I’m trying to teach him to fly.”). Glad I no longer have to find a carcass before going to the park now.
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Merlin isn’t a bad guess, but that appears to be a family of Cooper’s hawks! There’s a pair at 22nd and H that have successfully fledged 2-4 young each year for the past few years. They leave plucked and decapitated presents on the sidewalk as well. 🙂
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Ooh that looks right! I knew they didn’t look like the red tailed hawks we see so often in the area but the cooper’s hawks photos look just right. Thanks!
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