MERLIN
Falco columbarius
Notable Physical Characteristics - Size - Habitat - Nesting - Hunting
Behavior - Call - Additional Information - Resources
Notable Physical Characteristics
Dark brown plumage with buff breast feathers
Short, pointed wings
Distinctive moustache
Dark brown iris
Legs bright yellow, except breeding males whose legs have an orange hue
Distinctive banding on tail
Small falcon
Wingspan: 24”
Length: 10”
Weight: 6.5 oz
(Females are larger than males by 24-30%)
Found across most of North America
Prefers open areas to facilitate hunting
Couples remain monogamous
Raise one brood per season
Typically nest in abandoned crow or hawk nests, rarely using the same nest in consecutive years
Usually lay 3-5 eggs
1 month incubation period
Chicks are fledged in 1 month
Diet consists mostly of small birds and insects
Often scan for prey from perches
Catch prey midair with short, dashing flight
Hunting activity peaks early morning and late afternoon
Prey killed by a bite to the neck
Discards head, feathers, legs, and wings of prey
Aggressive
Leave breeding grounds (Canada, Alaska) in early Aug., migration peaking in Sept./Oct.
Males precede female on return flight in spring, arriving in April
Alarm call: twi twitwitwititititititititit
Normal call: peek
Called the “pigeon hawk” because it is commonly mistaken for the larger bird in flight
Rarely walks on ground