![]() Northwest subspecies can be found nesting in coastal areas along rivers. Woodlots, near rivers, lakes, bogs, and on lake islands. The boreal subspecies can be found nesting near forest openings, in fragmented They are found in a variety of habitats, with each hosting a different sub-species of theseįalcons. Merlins can be found breeding in open and semi-open areas across northern North America. They also eat large insects such as dragonflies as well as bats. Merlins’ main diet is small birds which they are able to catch mid-air like other types of birds in the Falcon family. Their other prey includes large insects like dragonflies, bats at cave openings, nestling birds, and small mammals. They attack at high speeds from any direction in order to catch their prey by surprise, often working in pairs for an efficient hunt. Their most common prey includes Horned Lark, House Sparrow, Bohemian Waxwing, Dickcissel, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, and other songbirds and shorebirds. Merlins are birds of prey that mostly consume small to medium-sized birds between 1 – 3 ounces. They then take deep U-Shaped dives, take on a slower fluttering flight in a circular or figure-eight pattern near their perched mate. This includes bursts of strong level flights while rocking from one side to the other. The Merlin gives out remarkable displays, especially during courtship. They exhibit a more powerful flight and can flap their wings faster than the Prairie and Peregrine falcons. They take on a flight speed of about 30 miles per hour and can go faster when going for prey. ![]() They are considered fierce hunters attributed to their element of surprise. They are fairly small birds especially for the Falcon family as their length is 24-33cm and a wingspan of 50-73sm. Their underparts are a whitish buff spotted with some brown streaks. Females are brownish-gray to dark brown on their upperparts. These underpart shades are coupled with reddish-brown to black streaks. Its underparts range from orange tints to buff also depending on the subspecies. Males have a blue-gray back but may range from black to silver-gray depending on the subspecies. Their dark tails have narrow white bands and their faces lack a prominent The breasts are usually heavily streaked, and their underwingsĪre dark. Males are usually slaty gray to dark gray with females and Merlins are typically dark and streaky, but their coloration As with most falcons, the females are generally They have sharply pointed wings, aīroad chest, and a medium-length tail. Merlins might be smaller than most falcons at 9.4 – 11.8 inches in length, but their stockyĪnd powerful builds make them formidable birds of prey. They have also expanded their nesting grounds to towns and suburbs hence the numbers are stable and growing thanks to the ban of DDT pesticide. ![]() The numbers of the Merlin bird have increased in some parts of North America especially in the northern plains. They can also be found in Europe and Asia as they are migratory birds. The Merlin is a fairly small bird belonging to the Falcon family and native to North America. ![]() We have also put together a list of fun Merlin t-shirts, Merlin bird patches, birdhouses, bird feeders, binoculars, stickers, and other fun bird-watching items. Below are some tips to help you identify Merlins. A Merlin is a fun bird to see while bird watching. ![]()
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