help id please

[natureshooter]

Hello,was watching this fly about for a while,i could tell it wasnt a kestrel and my first thoughts was a merlin,did get very good pic,this is a 100% crop..

Oh at wolesley nature reserve staffs.

thanks all

[AshLee]

I think that's a female Merlin.
Never seen one though
Nice bird

[aeshna5]

Not the clearest of images, but looks like female Kestrel to me.

[Picidae]

Its a Kestrel.

Looks like a first winter male Kestrel to me going on size (also broken fine barring on tail - inner tail retrices appear to be unbarred again indicating 1w). Wrong shape for Merlin, bill too large and face and breast pattern wrong. Merlins have dumpier shape (more like Little Owls when perched) and have tail barring that's even widths between dark/pale) and less extensive yellow on cere.

[diggleken]

Clearly Kestrel for me too.
Jizz and in a tree perched like that isnt normal merlin either in my experience - they are often on more open watch places.
Cheers
Ken

[Dogghound]

I agree this is certainly a Kestrel.