Merlin Falcon: Field Guide, Pictures, Habitat & Info

Last Updated on Mar 08 2024

Also known as the smallest “bird of prey” and “pigeon hawks,” Merlin Falcons are aggressive birds flying high above the sky, looking to hunt smaller birds. They are widespread in the forests of North America and Eurasia.

In the early days, Merlin Falcons were famous as “lady hawks” among Medieval falconers. Not only that, but noblewomen also used these birds to take down Skylarks. That’s because Merlin Falcons are powerful fliers.

To spot these birds, you must visit the northern forests in North America and look for their nests with safety measures. Let’s explore everything about Merlin Falcons.

Quick Facts About Merlin Falcons

Merlin Falcon: General Description

Merlin Falcons are a common bird species in North America and Eurasia, identified by their compact bodies compared to other larger falcons. They hunt small birds by surprise-attacking them from mid-air to satisfy their hunger.

Merlin Falcons are dark and steaky birds with distinctive streaks like most falcon species. Additionally, they are powerful fliers with exceptional hunting techniques.

You’re likely to find these birds in wild habitats, but they have changed their habitat since the 1960s. Merlin Falcons have become an urban bird species in multiple towns and cities. They nest on the northern prairies and stay there till migration. During this period, they hunt for House sparrows.

Merlin Falcon: Range, Habitat, Behavior, Diet & Nesting

Merlin Falcons are full of interesting facts. Let’s uncover them by understanding their range, habitat, behavior, diet, and nesting.

Range

Merlin Falcons are typically long-distance migrants, but some are resident birds. The dark-colored Merlins live in the Northwest all year or travel short distances south when it gets cold.

Many prairie Merlins migrate to the Southern and Central US and Northern Mexico. However, a few stay in urban areas all year. The taiga Merlins move to the coastal and southern US from northern breeding grounds and can travel far to Ecuador.

Habitat

Merlins prefer living in open and partially open areas in the Northern regions of North America. However, you may also find them nesting near forests, lakes, bogs, rivers, and lake islands. This is observed explicitly in boreal subspecies.

The Merlin Falcons from the Pacific Northwest typically nest in coastal areas alongside rivers. The prairie subspecies inhabit trees and shrubs near waterways. They may also nest in small thickets of deciduous trees.

Merlins have even inhabited towns and cities. In these places, these birds take over the nests of crows and raptors in conifers of residential areas, parks, cemeteries, and schoolyards.

Behavior

Merlin Falcons are strong fliers with an average speed of 30 miles an hour. They fly even faster when chasing and capturing their prey. Don’t let their small wings deceive you. These birds are even more powerful during flight as they can flap their wings quicker than Peregrine and Prairie falcons.

Merlin Falcons become quite aggressive during the breeding season. They protect their nests by chasing the predators away from their territory.

These birds are monogamous, but most look for new mates every year. Males show impressive flight displays when mating. It includes level flight with side-to-side rocking, slow fluttering in a circle, or U-like air dives.

Male Merlins also land slowly next to their partner while outstretching the legs and performing head bowing and tail fanning. They may also bring food for their mates.

Diet

The diet of Merlins primarily consists of birds. It also includes multiple small to medium birds ranging between 1–2 ounces. The most common ones are House Sparrow, Horned Lark, Least Sandpiper, Dickcissel, Dunlin, Bohemian Waxwing, and other song or shore birds.

The hunting technique of Merlin Falcons is quite different. Instead of stooping on birds like most falcons, they surprise attack their prey at high speeds horizontally and chase them upwards.

You may also see Merlin Falcons feasting on giant insects, including bats, dragonflies, and bats. The couple teams up to hunt big groups of prey. One attacks the flock from below, while the other starts capturing the prey.

Nesting

Since Merlins don’t create their nests, they opt for left-out crows, magpies, ravens, and hawks’ nests in conifers or deciduous trees. They may also nest in tree cavities, ground, or cliffs.

How to Find Merlin Falcons: Birdwatching Tips

Merlins are common during migration and winter, but it’s difficult to see them. That’s because they either sit on treetops to scan an area or fly at full speed, searching for small birds.

Also, Merlin Falcons fly very quickly, so you’d need to look for them immediately or they will fly away. Here are some birdwatching tips to help you out:

What to Listen For

Merlin Falcons give a chattering, shrill call for about 4 seconds when mating or defending their territory. They also make short, chirp-like sounds. Males have a higher-pitched voice than females.

What to Look For

Some identification signs for Merlin Falcons are:

When to Look

The best time to look for Merlin Falcons is during winter and migration. Search for them in grasslands, open forests, and coastal areas at this time.

Attracting Merlin Falcons to Your Backyard: Tips & Tricks

Inviting Merlin Falcons to your backyard can be exciting but daunting. These birds can get aggressive, so make sure to do so safely. Here are a few tips to help you:

Merlin Falcon Conservation: Is this Bird Threatened?

The North American Breeding Bird Survey reported a 2% annual increase in Merlin populations from 1966 to 2019. This upsurge in their population was after the 1960s’ decline because of pesticide use.

Partners in Flight finds Merlin Falcon’s global breeding population around 3.2 million. This bird species also has a 7 out of 20 rating on the Continental Concern Score, making it a common concern.

Since the late 20th century, Merlins have been breeding in cities and towns where they consume House Sparrows and live in old crow nests.

Final Thoughts

Merlin Falcons are abundant bird species in North American forests. They reside in open and semi-open areas and lay eggs in already built nests of crows near lakes, rivers, and bogs. These birds are smaller than other falcons and feed on small birds.

Merlins have powerful wings, helping them fly at a very fast speed. Because of this, you may have difficulty spotting these birds if you’re a birdwatcher. But not all hopes are lost; listen carefully to their chirps and shrill calls to identify them!

Featured Image Credit: Merlin Falcon ( Image Credit: Ron Knight, Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0)