Merlin

Falco columbarius

The merlin is a compact falcon, Falco columbarius, built for fast pursuit rather than soaring display. It breeds across northern parts of North America, Europe, and Asia, then many birds move south outside the nesting season. Merlins are smaller and stockier than peregrines, with pointed wings, quick wingbeats, and plumage that varies by sex and region; males are often slate-gray above, while females and young birds tend toward browner tones.

People most often encounter merlins through birdwatching, raptor rehabilitation, migration counts, and specialist falconry. They are energetic hunters of small birds and require careful handling, appropriate permits, clean mews, and a diet that supports intense flight. Conservation work may focus on nest monitoring, window-strike recovery, and tracking how urban nesting pairs use old crow or magpie nests in towns, parks, and shelterbelts.