The Merlin Falcon often preys on small to medium-sized birds, swooping down from above and grabbing the unsuspecting bird in flight. The song sparrow is the Merlin’s prey of choice. Merlins can be seen in most parts of the Pacific Northwest, but they are uncommon birds.
The Merlin Falcon often preys on small to medium-sized birds, swooping down from above and grabbing the unsuspecting bird in flight. The song sparrow is the Merlin’s prey of choice. Merlins can be seen in most parts of the Pacific Northwest, but they are uncommon birds.
The Merlin Falcon is a small bird measuring just 35 cm with a wingspan of 60 cm, but like all the other falcons, they have large heads, and sharp beaks, and they can fly very fast.
Its chest and belly are a buff colour with dark brown streaks. Its back, wings, tail, and crown are light blue-gray. The tail is narrow and banded, and the wings are pointed. Their legs and feet are yellow, but their talons are black. The Merlin has been called the pigeon hawk because it looks like a pigeon when in flight. The female Merlin is similar in size to the male, but its wings and back are brown rather than blue-gray.
The Merlin can be found throughout the whole coast, but they are not a common sight in any particular area. A breeding pair needs a large territory in which to hunt, and they are very territorial.
During the breeding season, they inhabit coniferous forests, but throughout the remainder of the year, they prefer open areas. They are migratory birds and will move southward when the weather cools. As with most falcons, the Merlin’s falcon’s courtship rituals include fancy flying and increased vocalization. Once mated, a nest site is chosen. The nest can be in a tree or a crevice high on a cliff. They will often use abandoned nests of other raptors.
The Merlin feeds primarily on small to medium-sized birds, but they will also hunt bats, insects, mice, and other rodents. They often swoop down from a perch, snatching their prey before the danger has even registered to them.
I have seen one of these in our garden twice in a week. It is probably there because we live across the street from a small forest and have dozens of birds in our garden every day. When the Merlin is there, the small birds are nowhere to be seen.