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Merlin Falcon

Freya

Freya is our female Merlin Falcon. Hatched in 2023, she is one of the newest members of our family. In the wild, she would be fast enough to catch dragon flies, and this makes her amazing to watch in displays flying to a lure. 

 

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MERLIN FALCON FACTS

Falco Columbariaus

  

TERRITORY/LOCATION

Merlin's are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. In North America they are found from eastern Canada and Alaska, south throughout Mexico. Merlin's spend the winter in the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, northern South America, and the Caribbean Islands.

HABITAT

Merlin's inhabit fairly open country, such as willow or birch scrub, shrubland, but also taiga forest, parks, grassland such as steppe and prairies, or moorland, parks, and cemeteries. During migration Merlin's stop in grasslands, open forests, and coastal areas.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Least Concern

DIET

They are swift fliers and skilled hunters who specialize in preying on small birds in the size range of sparrows to qual. Common prey include Horned Lark, House Sparrow, Bohemian Waxwing, Dickcissel, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, and other shorebirds dragonflies, bats caught at cave openings, nestling birds, and small mammals.

SIZE/WEIGHT

Size/Weight 24–33 cm long with a 50–73 cm wingspan.

Compared with most other small falcons, it is more robust and heavily built.

Males average at about 165-230g.

NESTING

Merlin's are increasingly breeding in towns and cities, where they often take over crow nests in conifers planted in residential areas, schoolyards, Breeding occurs typically in May/June. Laying 3-6 eggs. Sometimes first-year merlin's (especially males) will serve as a "nest helper" for an adult pair

  

LIFE EXPECTANCY

7-8 years average age in the wild

11 years oldest recorded in the wild

15 years oldest recorded in captivity

SCIENTIFIC

CLASSIFICATION

KINGDOM

Animalia

PHYLUM

Chordata

CLASS

Aves

ORDER

Falconiformes

FAMILY

Falconidae

GENUS

Falco

SPECIES

F. columbarius

Birds of Prey