Merlin Falcon (Falco columbarius)
Small falcon, present in North America and Eurasia, preying mostly on other small birds. It is a migratory species spending winter in the southern North America or Central America. Merlins living in urban areas may remain over winter and not migrate.
- 🇫🇷 Faucon émerillon
- 🇩🇪 Merlin
- 🇲🇽 Esmerejón
Characteristics
- Length: 30-35cm
- Weight: 250-350g
- Wingspan: 60-65cm
How to Identify
Looks very similar to Peregrine Falcon. Distinguished characteristics are the beak proportions, colour of breast feathers and eyebrows.
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Where and When to Spot
My first observation of this species happened early December within the streets of Montreal, sitting on a tree, eating prey. A second observation happened not far from the first place, a few years later in January 2023.