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Merlin

Merlin

Falco columbarius

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The Merlin is a small, compact and fast falcon of the northern Holarctic that winters further south into subtropical and even northern tropical regions. A specialist bird-hunter, it chases prey from sparrow-sized songbirds to doves and small waders in rapid, low pursuits rather than hovering. Females are larger than males. In North America many populations have grown, and some birds now live year-round in cities.

Did you know?

  • Despite the shared name, it has no link to the wizard Merlin; the name comes from Old French.
  • In medieval falconry the Merlin was known as the “lady's falcon”.

Voice

Call

About the species

Identification

A very small falcon with short, broad-based wings and fast, low flight. The male is dark blue-grey above and rufous-buff below with streaks; females and young are brown above and paler below with bold dark streaks. The tail has a broad dark subterminal band. Compared with Kestrel it is darker and rarely hovers; compared with Hobby it has shorter, broader wings and lacks the dark mask and rufous “trousers”. The call is a shrill “kee-kee-kee”.

Family

Falconidae

Size

Medium (thrush)

Colours

brown, grey, white

About the habitat

Open landscapes with scattered trees or edges – moorland, heath, dunes, bogs, tundra, coasts and forest clearings; in winter also farmland, coasts and towns.

Diet

Mainly small birds such as pipits, larks and finches; also large insects such as dragonflies and occasionally small mammals.

Behaviour

A swift, direct flier with rapid, powerful wingbeats that hunts by surprise and sustained chases close to the ground. It often perches on low posts or treetops to scan for prey. Most populations migrate, but some birds winter as far north as conditions allow. It usually nests in old crow nests, or on the ground or cliffs in treeless areas.

Sources

Photo: caroline legg, CC BY 2.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Merlin, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland (53554254330).jpg

Sound: Jonathon Jongsma, XC101582, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://xeno-canto.org/101582

Text: Wikipedia (English) + FinBIF species descriptions, CC BY-SA 4.0; FinBIF: CC BY 4.0 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlin_(bird)

See also