Merlin

Falco columbarius

Photo by J_K
Location: Seaton Snook common , Seaton Carew

Identification

Smallish falcon. Approximately 10-13 inches in length. Pointed wings, less distinguishable facial stripe then moct falcons, just a slightly darker slash. Male is gunmetal-blue above, with streaked underparts. Female is browish, as is juvenile. Pacific Coast "Black" or "Suckley's" Merlins are very dark, while the "Richardson's" prairie Merlin is noticeably paler than the other subspecies.

Distribution

North America, Central America and South America, Europe, Africa and northern Asia.

Taxonomy

Eight races are usually recognised: columbarius, the Taiga Merlin, in Alaska and northern Canada, suckleyi from British Columbia to northern California and richardsonii in the Great Plains. The large and dark F.c.subaesalon breeds in Iceland and the Faroes and winters in the British Isles, rarely on European coasts from Norway to France, aesalon breeds from Europe to western Siberia and the paler insignis breeds in eastern Siberia and winters in Japan and China. Another pale race pallidus breeds in west-central Asia, lymani in the eastern Altai, Tien Shan and western China.

Habitat

Moorland and heaths, tundra and boreal forest-edge.

Bird Song

<flashmp3>Falco columbarius (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

External Links

Search for photos of Merlin in the gallery

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages