All About the Merlin Bird - Merlin Bird of Prey facts & information

The Merlin is the UK's smallest falcon, known for its speed and agility whilst hunting small bird species.

Identify Birds - The Merlin

Merlins are small and compact falcons with pointed wings and a square-cut tail. Male Merlins are blue-grey with rusty streaks. Females are browner in colour and heavily streaked.

They are small compared to other falcons; in fact, they are not much bigger than the Blackbird. They feed on small birds and chase them in flight, low to the ground. Merlins are also ground nesters and will nest amongst the heather.

Conservation Status - The Red List

The Merlin is a Red-listed species in the UK, meaning it is of high conservation concern. Although Merlin populations have recovered from severe declines in the mid-20th century, numbers remain relatively low and unevenly distributed across the country.

Breeding Merlins are mainly found in upland moorland and heathland habitats, particularly in Scotland, northern England and Wales. Ongoing threats include habitat loss, disturbance during the breeding season, and changes to land management practices.

The UK population is fully protected under UK law, making it illegal to harm Merlins or disturb their nests, eggs, or young. Continued conservation and careful management of upland habitats are essential to ensure the long-term survival of this fast and agile falcon in the UK.

Merlin (Falco columbarius) Diet

Merlins are fast, agile hunters that feed mainly on small birds, which they catch in rapid, low-level chases. Their diet is dominated by species such as the Meadow Pipit, Skylark, finches, and larks, often found in open habitats like moorland, grassland, and coastal areas.

During the breeding season, Merlins rely heavily on small birds to feed their chicks, but they will also take large insects and other invertebrate prey, particularly when bird prey is scarce.

Where do Merlins live?

Merlins live in open landscapes where they can hunt. In the UK, they breed mainly in upland moorland, heathland and open hill country, especially in Scotland, northern England and Wales. During the breeding season, they favour remote areas with heather and rough vegetation, where they nest on the ground.

Outside the breeding season, Merlins move to lowland and coastal habitats, including farmland, estuaries, wetlands and grasslands, where prey is more abundant in winter.

Globally, Merlins have a wide distribution across the Northern Hemisphere. They breed in northern Europe, Scandinavia, Iceland, Russia, Canada and Alaska, often in tundra or boreal forest regions. In winter, many migrate south to southern Europe, the southern United States, Central America and parts of northern South America.

Merlin Breeding Season

Merlin's courting is linked to their fast-flying nature. It will begin in early spring, before breeding starts. The male will perform rapid, twisting flights over the breeding areas, showing speed and agility. They also do food passing, which is where the male catches the prey and offers it to the female.

In the UK, Merlins begin their breeding season in early spring, with courtship and territory establishment starting in March and April. Egg-laying usually takes place from late April to May.

Merlins do not build their own nests. Instead, they are ground nesters, laying their eggs in a shallow scrape on the ground, often hidden among heather or rough vegetation on upland moorland. Occasionally, they may use old crow or raven nests.

The female typically lays 4 to 6 eggs, which she incubates for around 28 to 32 days. During this time, the male provides most of the food. Chicks hatch in late May or June and remain in or near the nest for several weeks before fledging. By late summer, young Merlins become independent and begin to disperse, with many birds migrating to wintering grounds.

Five Facts about the Merlin

1. The Merlin is the UK’s smallest falcon, only slightly larger than a Blackbird, but it is one of the fastest and most agile birds of prey.

2. Merlins hunt other birds in flight, flying low over the ground and using sudden bursts of speed to surprise their prey.

3. They do not build their own nests and usually lay their eggs in a shallow scrape on the ground, often hidden among heather on upland moorland.

4. Male and female Merlins look different: males are blue-grey with rusty streaking, while females are browner and more heavily streaked.

5. Merlins are Red-listed in the UK, meaning they are a species of high conservation concern and fully protected by law.