Falco columbarius
The Merlin, Falco columbarius, is a small, powerful, and swift falcon revered for its agility and hunting prowess. Measuring 24-33 cm (9.4-13 in) in length with a wingspan of 50-73 cm (20-29 in), it weighs between 120-270 g, with females typically larger than males. Adult males sport a striking slate-blue back, finely barred tail, and rufous-washed, finely streaked underparts, while females and immatures are predominantly brownish on the back with heavily streaked underparts. Distinguishing f...
Merlins inhabit a variety of open to semi-open landscapes, including taiga, boreal forest edges, prairie riverine woodlands, coastal areas, tundra, and increasingly, urban environments, from sea level up to moderate mountain elevations.
Merlins primarily consume small to medium-sized birds, which they catch in agile, high-speed aerial pursuits, but they also prey on large insects like dragonflies and occasionally small mammals or reptiles.
Merlins are diurnal hunters, typically solitary outside the breeding season, roosting in trees or on ledges. Their foraging strategy is characterized by swift, low-level aerial pursuit, often surprising prey from a hidden perch or during a rapid flight. They are fiercely territorial during the br...
The Merlin boasts a circumboreal breeding range across the Northern Hemisphere, encompassing vast areas of North America, Europe, and Asia. In North America, they breed from Alaska and Canada south into the northern United States, including the Pacific Northwest, Great Plains, and the boreal fore...
Least Concern
- Historically, Merlins were often called "pigeon hawks" due to their size and penchant for hunting pigeons and other small birds. - Merlins rarely build their own nests, instead refurbishing or taking over abandoned stick nests of larger birds like crows or raptors. - Despite their small size, t...