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Help develop a Bird ID tool!

Merlin

Falco columbarius ORDER: FALCONIFORMES FAMILY: FALCONIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Merlin Photo

© Jessie H. Barry

A small falcon of northern forests and prairies, the Merlin is the least well-marked of the American falcons. It is becoming a regular breeder in urban areas.

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Appearance

Hawks
Hawks
Typical Voice

Adult Description

Small hawk. Long, pointed wings. Long, banded tail. Faint mustache mark. Brown streaking on chest and belly. Back unmarked gray or brown.

Immature Description

Similar to adult female.

Range Map Help

Merlin Range Map
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Field MarksHelp

  • Adult male (Taiga)
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    Merlin

    Adult male (Taiga)
    • Pigeon-sized falcon, muscular and lean
    • Slaty-blue/gray cap and wings
    • Thin white eyebrow with dark eye
    • No distinct facial pattern
    • Taiga subspecies most common in eastern U.S. and Canada
    • © Christopher L. Wood, Monroe County, New York, March 2010
  • Adult female (Taiga)
    Zoom In

    Merlin

    Adult female (Taiga)
    • Pigeon-sized falcon, muscular and lean
    • Dark brown back and cap
    • Dark eye and thin. pale eyebrow
    • Dark streaks on breast
    • © Duncan Murray, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, December 2008
  • Adult male (Prairie)
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    Merlin

    Adult male (Prairie)
    • Light blue-gray crown
    • Pale face with no distinct pattern
    • Streaked breast
    • Dark eye with pale eyebrow
    • Prairie subspecies occurs in Great Plains states and southern Canada
    • © Cameron Rognan, Washington, Utah, February 2011
  • Adult female (Prairie)
    Zoom In

    Merlin

    Adult female (Prairie)
    • Long, pointed wings and shorter tail
    • Pale face with thin white eyebrow and dark eye
    • Belly streaked with pale brown
    • Under-wings boldly marked
    • © Glenn Bartley, Alberta, Canada, May 2009
  • Adult
    Zoom In

    Merlin

    Adult
    • Slender, pointed wings
    • Dark mottling on underside
    • Dark charcoal or black back and crown
    • © Tom Johnson, Aurora, New York, November 2009
  • Juvenile
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    Merlin

    Juvenile
    • Chubbier than adult
    • Warm brown back and cap
    • Buffy face
    • Streaked breast
    • © Pat Kavanagh, Taber, Alberta, Canada, July 2010
  • Adult male (Taiga)
    Zoom In

    Merlin

    Adult male (Taiga)
    • Long wings sharply pointed in flight
    • Blue/gray upper-parts
    • Thick black bands on tail
    • © Christopher L. Wood, Cape May, New Jersey, October 2010
  • Adult (Taiga)
    Zoom In

    Merlin

    Adult (Taiga)
    • Sharply pointed wings
    • Dark streaking on breast and belly
    • Black and white banded tail
    • Bold "checkerboard" pattern on underwings
    • © William Jobes, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, September 2008
  • Adult male (Taiga)
    Zoom In

    Merlin

    Adult male (Taiga)
    • Slaty blue cap and back
    • Large, dark eye
    • Thin pale eyebrow
    • No distinct facial pattern
    • © Jen St. Louis, Nelson, Campbellville, Ontario, Canada, October 2010

Similar Species

Similar Species

  • American Kestrel is slightly smaller, has well defined face stripes, has light tail with dark tip or many thin bands, and has rufous on back.
  • Prairie Falcon is much larger, has a more defined facial pattern, lacks bands on tail, and has dark in base of underside of wings.
  • Sharp-shinned Hawk with shorter, more rounded wings.