Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae)
Merlin (Falco columbarius) - HBW 2, p. 267
French: Faucon émerillon
German: Merlin
Spanish: Esmerejón
Other common names: Pigeon Hawk
Taxonomy: Falco columbarius Linnaeus, 1758, America = South Carolina.
Formerly placed in genus Aesalon. Has been allied with F. chicquera, but no clear relationship. Nine subspecies normally recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- subaesalon C. L. Brehm, 1827 - Iceland.
- aesalon Tunstall, 1771 - N Eurasia, from Faeroes E to C Siberia.
- insignis (Clark, 1907) - Siberia, E of R Yenisey to R Kolyma.
- subaesalon C. L. Brehm, 1827 - Iceland.
- aesalon Tunstall, 1771 - N Eurasia, from Faeroes E to C Siberia.
- insignis (Clark, 1907) - Siberia, E of R Yenisey to R Kolyma.
- pacificus (Stegmann, 1929) - Soviet Far E, including Sakhalin I.
- pallidus (Sushkin, 1900) - steppes of Asia, from near Aral Sea to Altai Mts.
- lymani Bangs, 1913 - mountains of C Asia, in Turkestan, E Russia, NW China and Mongolia.
- suckleyi Ridgway, 1873 - Pacific coast of North America, from Alaska and British Columbia to N Washington.
- columbarius Linnaeus, 1758 - North America, except Pacific coast and Great Plains.
- richardsoni Ridgway, 1871 - Great Plains of North America, from C Alberta S to Wyoming.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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An adult female on a branch Locality Oulanka National Park, Finland
Javier Ortas 3 July 2010 2 years ago 30 sec 4.6 -
An adult male perched and looking around Locality Ventura County, California, USA (United States) (ssp columbarius)
Don DesJardin 31 January 2002 5 years ago 17 sec 4.6 -
A male-plumaged female trying to drink on a frozen pond (part of the clip at slow motion). Locality Perdiguera, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp aesalon)
Jesús Laborda 18 February 2012 1 year ago 48 sec 4.6 -
A close-up of some chicks at the nest Locality Oulanka National Park, Finland
Javier Ortas 3 July 2010 2 years ago 41 sec 4.4 -
A front view of an adult male on a branch and flying away Locality Ventura County, California, USA (United States) (ssp columbarius)
Don DesJardin 31 January 2002 5 years ago 21 sec 4.4 -
A male-plumaged female preening and looking around. Locality Perdiguera, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp aesalon)
Jesús Laborda 18 February 2012 1 year ago 1 min 4 sec 4.3 -
A male-plumaged female trying to drink on a frozen pond. Locality Perdiguera, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp aesalon)
Jesús Laborda 18 February 2012 1 year ago 33 sec 4.3 -
A first winter male in the hand, having been caught in a mist nest and ringed Locality Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve, Warrington, Cheshire, England, Great Britain (ssp aesalon)
Greg Baker 4 November 2006 1 year ago 38 sec 4.3 -
A first winter immature perched on a fence post and becoming alert (and head-bobbing) at the arrival of a passing flock of Linne Locality Frodsham Marsh, Cheshire, England, Great Britain (ssp aesalon / subaesalon)
Greg Baker 14 November 2012 27 weeks ago 48 sec 4.2 -
Frontal head and upper body view of an immature first winter before it flies away Locality Frodsham Marsh, Cheshire, England, Great Britain (ssp aesalon / subaesalon)
Greg Baker 14 November 2012 27 weeks ago 12 sec 4 -
A male-plumaged female preening and looking around. Locality Perdiguera, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp aesalon)
Jesús Laborda 18 February 2012 1 year ago 50 sec 4 -
A male-plumaged female on a frozen pond. Locality Perdiguera, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp aesalon)
Jesús Laborda 18 February 2012 1 year ago 16 sec 4 -
A male-plumaged female on a frozen pond (parts of the clip at slow motion). Locality Perdiguera, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp aesalon)
Jesús Laborda 18 February 2012 1 year ago 1 min 3 sec 4 -
A juvenile / first winter male perched on a post and on the ground, viewed from rear and front Locality Pendeen Watch, Cornwall, England, Great Britain (ssp aesalon)
Greg Baker 17 October 2010 1 year ago 42 sec 4 -
A male-plumaged female looking around and flying away (part of the clip at slow motion). Locality Perdiguera, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp aesalon)
Jesús Laborda 18 February 2012 1 year ago 31 sec 3.8 -
A male-plumaged female on a frozen pond, looking around and walking (part of the clip at slow motion). Locality Perdiguera, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp aesalon)
Jesús Laborda 18 February 2012 1 year ago 1 min 1 sec 3.7 -
A first winter immature perched on a fence post Locality Frodsham Marsh, Cheshire, England, Great Britain (ssp aesalon / subaesalon)
Greg Baker 14 November 2012 27 weeks ago 33 sec 3.5 -
A young male feeding. Locality Sevilla la Nueva, Madrid, Spain
Javier Ortas 22 February 2008 4 years ago 31 sec 3.5 -
An adult bird perched in a tree, with characteristics of an eastern individual, darker than a western one Locality Lake Piru, Ventura County, California, USA (United States) (ssp columbarius)
Don DesJardin 30 November 2007 5 years ago 29 sec 3.5 -
A bird on a leafless tree, flying between branches Locality Waimes, Liège Province, Belgium (ssp aesalon)
Jean Hupperetz 17 September 2005 6 years ago 36 sec 3.4 -
A male-plumaged female on a frozen pond (part of the clip at slow motion). Locality Perdiguera, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp aesalon)
Jesús Laborda 18 February 2012 1 year ago 28 sec 3.3 -
A young male preening. Locality Sevilla la Nueva, Madrid, Spain
Javier Ortas 22 February 2008 4 years ago 30 sec 3.3 -
A female on a tree top, then flying away Locality Las Barrancas, Veracruz State, Mexico (Southern) (ssp columbarius)
Josep del Hoyo 8 October 2006 5 years ago 27 sec 3.2 -
A bird flying over the sea Locality Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire, Wales, Great Britain (ssp aesalon)
Nathan Kipling 6 November 2007 4 years ago 22 sec 3.1 -
A migrant or wintering female of the Prairie race perched on a small bush near the top of a cliff Locality San Benito Islands, Baja California Sur State, Mexico (Northern) (ssp richardsoni)
Greg Baker 10 April 2013 2 weeks ago ADDED LAST MONTH 13 sec 3 -
Adult male, filmed from front. sitting on branch of tree looking around. Is guarding 4 young that are in vicinity Locality Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USA (United States) (ssp suckleyi?)
Marc de Bont 1 August 2008 2 years ago 25 sec 3 -
A female perched on a branch Locality Salton Sea, California, USA (United States) (ssp columbarius)
Paul Clarke 31 December 2001 5 years ago 18 sec 3 -
A male-plumaged female preening and looking around. Locality Perdiguera, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp aesalon)
Jesús Laborda 18 February 2012 1 year ago 38 sec 2.8 -
Adult male filmed from backside. Sitting in vicinity of 4 young. Locality Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USA (United States) (ssp suckleyi?)
Marc de Bont 1 August 2008 2 years ago 15 sec 2.5 -
Four young on one branch of a bush. Locality Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USA (United States) (ssp suckleyi?)
Marc de Bont 1 August 2008 2 years ago 15 sec 2.3
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