Merlin
Falcon
(Falco columbarius)
Photographed in Toronto, Canada Apr 2018
The
Merlin is a small species of falcon from the Northern Hemisphere, with numerous
subspecies throughout North America and Eurasia. A bird of prey once known
colloquially as a pigeon hawk in North America, the Merlin breeds in the
northern Holarctic; some migrate to subtropical and northern tropical regions
in winter. Males typically have wingspans of 21–23 inches, with females being
slightly larger.
They are swift fliers and skilled hunters who specialize in
preying on small birds in the size range of sparrows to quail. The Merlin has
for centuries been well regarded as a falconry bird. In recent decades merlin
populations in North America have been significantly increasing, with some
merlins becoming so well adapted to city life that they forgo migration.
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