Photo: Cephas / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Merlin
Falco columbarius
Merlin (Falco columbarius) — Birds of Prey of North America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Merlin (Falco columbarius) is a member of the Falconidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 188 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Falconiformes
- Family Falconidae Caracaras, Falcons
- Genus Falco
- Species columbarius
Quick facts
- Weight
- 188 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Falconidae
- Order
- Falconiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Merlin preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Merlin is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Merlin (Falco columbarius) is a species of bird in the Falconidae family, part of the order Falconiformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers NA, PAL widespread.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 188 g, with a wing length of about 20 cm and a tail of around 11.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 26.3 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Merlin?
The Merlin is a large bird that weighs around 188 g.
Where does the Merlin live?
The Merlin is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL widespread, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Merlin belong to?
The Merlin (Falco columbarius) belongs to the Falconidae family, in the order Falconiformes.
What does the Merlin eat?
The Merlin preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Merlin migrate?
The Merlin is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Merlin endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Merlin make?
1 real field recording of the Merlin — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Merlin's range?
The Merlin has a mapped global range of about 26.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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