Date: 11/25/25 8:16 am From: Edge Wade <1edgewade...> Subject: Have you heard and Merlin confirmed a bird you didn't see?
Birders, beware! European Starlings are superb imitators.
If you think you hear a bird out of its expected season in Missouri, but do not see it, and/or Merlin indicates a bird detected that normally should no longer be present in Missouri, think twice (or more) before including it on your checklist.
Look around you, are there starlings present? Starlings have been known to imitate phoebes, pee wees, and many, many more species.
If you don't know when a bird is expected to have left Missouri, excellent bar charts showing the expected presence of species are the heart of the MDC publication, "Enjoying Missouri's Birds".
