General Overview

Common Name: Merlinn. Scientific Name: Falco columbarius. Family: Falconidae (falcons and caracaras). Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List), though populations vary regionally. Size: 9.4–11.8 in (24–30 cm) in length; wingspan 20–26 in (50–65 cm).

Weight: 150–240 g (males smaller), 190–250 g (females larger).

Lifespan: Around 10–13 years in the wild; occasionally longer.

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Appearance

Body: Compact, muscular build with pointed wings and a medium-length tail. Coloration: Varies by sex and region.

Males (adult): Slate-gray to blue-gray upperparts, pale underparts streaked with brown. Females/immatures: Brown above, heavily streaked below, overall more cryptic. Tail: Narrow with several dark bands.

Eyes: Dark, intense, adapted for fast aerial pursuits.

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Behavior & Hunting

Hunting Style: Fast, low, and direct flight; known for powerful bursts of speed rather than soaring.

Diet: Primarily small to medium-sized birds (sparrows, larks, starlings, sandpipers). Also eats large insects, small mammals, and occasionally reptiles.

Hunting Technique: Pursues prey in open country or near wood edges; often hunts in surprise low-level chases or high-speed aerial pursuits.

Unique Trait: Unlike Peregrine Falcons (which stoop from great heights), Merlins typically chase in level, direct flight.

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Habitat

Breeding Habitat: Boreal forests, open woodland, tundra, moorland, and grasslands.

Winter Habitat: Coastal areas, prairies, open farmland, wetlands, grasslands, and urban areas (often seen hunting city pigeons and starlings).

Geographic Range: Breeding: Northern North America, Europe, and Asia (circumpolar).

Migration: Moves south in winter to North America’s southern U.S., Mexico, parts of Central America, northern Africa, and South Asia.

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Migration

Timing: Late summer through fall; northward return in spring. Style: Broad-front migrant (not strongly concentrated at ridges like hawks).

Notable: One of the earliest migrating falcons; long-distance migrants in northern populations.

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Nesting & Reproduction

Nesting Sites: Does not build its own nest; often uses abandoned crow, raven, hawk, or magpie nests, sometimes ledges or cliffs.

Clutch Size: Typically 4–5 eggs. Eggs: Buff or brown, heavily spotted. Incubation: 28–32 days, mostly by the female.

Fledging: Young leave nest at about 25–30 days, though parents continue feeding them until they master hunting.

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Vocalizations

Call: Sharp, rapid “kik-kik-kik” or “ki-ki-ki.” Use: Alarm, territorial defense, communication between mates.

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Human Interaction & History

Falconry: Merlins were historically prized in medieval falconry, especially by noblewomen, for their swift hunting style and manageable size.

Nickname: “Lady hawk” (reflecting its role in falconry).

Urban Adaptation: Increasingly hunts in cities during migration and winter, preying on starlings, pigeons, and sparrows.

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Ecological Role

Helps regulate populations of small birds and insects. Serves as both predator and prey (e.g., preyed upon by larger raptors such as Peregrine Falcons, Goshawks, and Great Horned Owls).

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Subspecies

There are around 9 recognized subspecies worldwide, differing in size and coloration: F. c. columbarius – North America (Taiga Merlin). F. c. richardsonii – Prairie regions of Canada/U.S. (Prairie Merlin, paler). F. c. aesalon – Eurasia (European Merlin). Other subspecies range across Iceland, Siberia, and Asia.

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Conservation

Population Trend: Stable or increasing in many regions due to bans on DDT and other pesticides.

Threats: Habitat loss, pesticide use, collisions with vehicles, and climate change altering prey availability.

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Fun Facts

A Merlin can reach speeds of 30–40 mph in sustained flight, with bursts higher during hunts. Sometimes hunts cooperatively in pairs (rare among falcons). Its scientific name, Columbarius, means “of doves,” referencing its preference for bird prey.

It has one of the widest distributions of any falcon, spanning North America, Europe, and Asia.