Falco columbarius
Like the sorcerer of King Arthur's court, the male Merlin wears a dapper blue cape on his back. The main weapons of this small falcon-like all its falcon relatives-are speed, topography and surprise. Their sleek body design, long, narrow tail and pointed wings maximize speed. Merlins tend to hunt small songbirds, and individual Merlins are known to concentrate their activities on one or two species. Through the fall migration, Merlins may follow larks and pipits south through high alpine meadows. The scientific name columbarius is from the Latin for 'dove' or 'pigeon,' which the Merlin resembles in flight-it was formerly known as the Pigeon Hawk. |
I.D.: General: heavily banded tail; heavily streaked underparts; no distinctive facial stripes; long, narrow tail. Male: blue-gray back and crown; rusty leg feathers. Female: brown back and crown. In flight: rapid wing beats; banded tail; pointed wings. Size: L 10-12 in. (25-30 cm); W 23-26 in. (58-66 cm). Range: uncommon migrant and winter visitor in the U.S. Rockies; rare migrant and summer breeder in the Canadian Rockies. Habitat: Breeding: mainly coniferous forests; hunts along forest edges. In migration: open fields, alpine meadows, grasslands and along lakeshores. Nesting: in either coniferous or deciduous trees, or in crevices and on cliffs; might reuse the abandoned nest of another raptor, crow, jay or magpie; might line nest with sprigs of green vegetation; either parent incubates the 4 or 5 eggs for 28-31 days. Feeding: opportunistic; dives at, or overtakes in flight, small songbirds, such as waxwings, starlings, larks and sparrows; also eats large insects and nestlings. Voice: loud, noisy, cackling cry: kek-kek-kek-kek-kek or ki-ki-ki-ki; calls in flight or while perched. Similar Species: American Kestrel: 2 facial stripes. Peregrine Falcon much larger; distinctive, dark hood. Prairie Falcon: much larger; dark 'wing pits.' Sharp-shinned Hawk and Cooper's Hawk: short, round wings; vertical breast streaks. |
