Merlin

(Falco columbarius)

Conservation Status
IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

NatureServe

N4B, N4N - Apparently Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding

SNRB, SNRN - Unranked Breeding and Nonbreeding

Minnesota

not listed

 
Merlin
Photo by Dan W. Andree
 
Description

Merlin is a small typical falcon. It occurs in the summer in Europe, Asia, and North America. There are nine currently recognized subspecies worldwide. Three subspecies occur in North America. Two subspecies, Prairie Merlin (Falco columbarius richardsonii) and Taiga Merlin (Falco columbarius columbarius), occur in Minnesota.

North American Merlins breed in the summer from the northern tree limit of Alaska and Canada, south to Oregon, the northern Great Lakes Region, and Maine. In Minnesota, they breed mostly in the Northeast and Northwest Regions, but nests have been spotted in the Metro Region and as far south as Olmsted County. They are increasingly breeding in suburban areas. They usually use a nest abandoned by an American Crow, a Blue Jay, another raptor, or a squirrel.

Taiga Merlin is the eastern subspecies. While it is not common, it is much more common than Prairie Merlin, the western subspecies. It breeds in forests and in tree plantations adjacent to open hunting areas. It migrates south in the fall to the Gulf States, Central America, or South America. Prairie Merlin nests in shrubs and trees along rivers, and in small tree groves planted as windbreaks. It migrates south in the fall to southern California, southern Texas, and northern Mexico.

Adults are 9 to 13 (23 to 33 cm) in length and have a 3½ to 34¾ (60 to 68 cm) wingspan. The body is robust compared to other small falcons.

The male Taiga Merlin has a bluish gray (gray) back and crown. The underparts are creamy white with heavy, longitudinal, brown streaks. The forehead is white, and there is a white line above each eye. There are no strong facial markings, but there is one indistinct stripe on each side of the face. The throat is white. The tail is long and narrow. It is heavily banded light gray and very dark gray, and the tip of each tail feather is white. The wings are long and narrow. They are mostly colored like the back, but the primaries are black with a thin white border.

The female has a dark brown back and crown.

The male Prairie Merlin is lighter overall.

 

Size

Total length: 9 to 13 (23 to 33 cm)

Wingspan: 23½ to 34¾ (60 to 68 cm)

 

Voice

 

Similar Species

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) male has a rust-colored back, a rust-colored “cap” on the crown, and two bold stripes on each side of the face.

Habitat

Forests and in tree plantations adjacent to open hunting areas; suburban areas

Ecology

Migration

Uncommon to occasional migrant from mid-March to late May and from mid-August to early November. Common breeder in the north

 

Nesting

Merlins nest in deciduous and coniferous trees. They usually use a nest abandoned by an American Crow, a Blue Jay, another raptor, or a squirrel

 

Food

Smaller birds, rodents, lizards, snakes, and large insects, including grasshoppers and dragonflies.

Distribution

Occurrence

Not common but expanding

 

Maps

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

Taxonomy
Class Aves (birds)

Order

Falconiformes (falcons and caracaras)

Family

Falconidae (falcons and caracaras)

Subfamily

Falconinae

Genus

Falco (typical falcons)
   

Subordinate Taxa

North American

Black Merlin (Falco columbarius suckleyi)

Prairie Merlin (Falco columbarius richardsonii)

Taiga Merlin (Falco columbarius columbarius)

 

Eurasian

Central Asian Merlin (Falco columbarius lymani)

East Siberian Merlin (Falco columbarius insignis)

Eurasian Merlin (Falco columbarius aesalon)

Icelandic Merlin (Falco columbarius subaesalon)

Pacific Merlin (Falco columbarius pacificus)

 

Pallid

Pallid Merlin (Falco columbarius pallidus)

   

Synonyms

Aesalon columbarius

Falco aesalon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dan W. Andree

Merlin Falcon...

For several years merlins have shown up and one always seems to like hanging out in my tall spruce tree. I always knew when it was around since they are quite vocal. I hadn’t paid much attention to them thinking they would be difficult to see close enough and I often seen one or two flying around in the sky. This one didn’t seem to worried that I spotted him more than once so I filmed him and got some fairly nice images. I haven’t seen or heard any merlin sounds now for a couple days so thinking they moved on possibly entering migration stage. This merlin the majority of the time like perching on the very tip of the tall spruce. It’s maybe 50-60 ft. in height. Somewhere around there I’m not that good at judging tree heights but its a pretty tall spruce. I enjoy hearing and viewing this little falcon. Nice little falcon.

Merlin   Merlin
     
Merlin    
     
Merlin    

Merlin Falcon...

It perched for a while looking around then started preening its leg feathers. It made its regular sound or call only once during its brief perch on the tip of the tree then looked around again and flew off.

   
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Camera

Slideshows

Merlin
Cory Gregory

Merlin

Merlin
nick.linda

Merlin

 

slideshow

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Dan W. Andree

"Merlin Falcon" A quick look filmed Sept. 2024
Dec 30, 2024

About

I had heard the sounds of this small falcon several times when it was in my area. I didn't think it would stop anywhere close so didn't pay much attention. However, I did finally catch it perched on top a tall spruce tree in my front yard. I realized it would stop there every so often. You can see in the video how when the wind blows it used its tail and wing to help it balance itself. I believe this is a male merlin. I've heard and seen a few of them fly on and off during the spring to fall season. Nice little falcon and it is welcome on my tree tops anytime. Hope you enjoy this.

Other Videos

Merlin (Falco columbarius)
New England Naturalist

About

Oct 4, 2021

Merlin (Falco columbarius) preening in the fall sunshine.

Merlin - Falco columbarius
Stoil Ivanov

About

Nov 24, 2019

Merlin ( Falco columbarius ) filmed on 11-23-2019 at the local cemetery. It unsuccessfully chased a Dark-eyed junco that actually escaped by hiding in the same tree right under the perch ,I stayed waiting for it to fly but the junco remained in the thick branches out of reach for the Merlin .Anyway a Merlin in good light is always a pleasure to watch.

Falco columbarius MERLINS in Fall 2024 9091443
Rob Curtis

About

Nov 3, 2024

Falco columbarius MERLINS perched, preening, pooping, taking off.
in Fall 2024. Chicago
9091443

 

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Dan W. Andree
9/19/2024

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

It perched for a while looking around then started preening its leg feathers. It made its regular sound or call only once during its brief perch on the tip of the tree then looked around again and flew off.

Merlin

Dan W. Andree
9/18/2024

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

Merlin

Dan W. Andree
9/15/2024

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

For several years merlins have shown up and one always seems to like hanging out in my tall spruce tree. I always knew when it was around since they are quite vocal. I hadn’t paid much attention to them thinking they would be difficult to see close enough and I often seen one or two flying around in the sky. This one didn’t seem to worried that I spotted him more than once so I filmed him and got some fairly nice images.

Merlin
  I haven’t seen or heard any merlin sounds now for a couple days so thinking they moved on possibly entering migration stage. This merlin the majority of the time like perching on the very tip of the tall spruce. It’s maybe 50-60 ft. in height. Somewhere around there I’m not that good at judging tree heights but its a pretty tall spruce. I enjoy hearing and viewing this little falcon. Nice little falcon.
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Created: 12/11/2024

Last Updated:

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