Back Falco columbarius AN يؤيؤ Arabic يؤيؤ ARZ Falco columbarius AST Ördəktutan qızılquş Azerbaijani اؤردک توتان قیزیلقۇش AZB Яғалбай Bashkir Дзербнік Byelorussian Дзербнік BE-X-OLD Малък сокол Bulgarian
| Merlin | |
|---|---|
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| Merlin, nominate subspecies F. c. columbarius, in Prospect Park, New York | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Falconiformes |
| Family: | Falconidae |
| Genus: | Falco |
| Species: | F. columbarius
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| Binomial name | |
| Falco columbarius | |
| Subspecies | |
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3–9 subspecies (see text) | |
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| Range of F. columbarius Summer only range Year-round range Winter only range
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| Synonyms | |
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Aesalon columbarius (Linnaeus, 1758) | |
The merlin (Falco columbarius) is a small species of falcon from the Northern Hemisphere,[2] with numerous subspecies throughout North America and Eurasia. A bird of prey, the merlin breeds in the northern Holarctic; some migrate to subtropical and northern tropical regions in winter. Males typically have wingspans of 53–58 centimetres (21–23 in), with females being slightly larger. They are swift fliers and skilled hunters which specialize in preying on small birds in the size range of sparrows to doves and medium-sized shorebirds. 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; in Europe, populations increased up to about 2000 but have been steady subsequently.[3] The merlin has for centuries been well regarded as a falconry bird.
- ^ BirdLife International (2021). "Falco columbarius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T22696453A154505853. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22696453A154505853.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Merlin Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology". www.allaboutbirds.org. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
- ^ European Breeding Bird Atlas 2. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. 2020. p. 521. ISBN 978-84-16728-38-1.