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Wildlife
- Birds - |
Merlin
(Falco columbarius) M |
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RANGE: Breeds from northwestern Alaska and northern Yukon to
Labrador and Newfoundland, south to southern Alaska, eastern
Oregon, northern Minnesota, southern Quebec, New Brunswick, and
Nova Scotia. Winters west of the Rockies from south-central
Alaska, southern British Columbia, Wyoming, and Colorado
southward, locally across southern Canada, and in the eastern
United States from Maryland, the Gulf Coast, and southern Texas
to South America.
STATUS: Uncommon.
HABITAT: Inhabits open areas such as forest edges, bogs, and
lakes in boreal and moist Pacific Coastal forests, and
prairie-parkland of the northern Great Plains. Some remain in
prairie habitat even in winter; others will use almost any
habitat type encountered in its winter range.
NEST: Generally nests in trees from 5 to 60 feet above ground,
often in old stick nests of crows, ravens, magpies, or other
raptors, in or near open areas, and generally near water.
Occasionally nests on the ground, on bare ledge of a cliff, or
in cavities in trees. Prairie birds prefer to nest in isolated
groves of trees near water, and in wooded areas along rivers,
generally in coniferous trees.
FOOD: Sights prey from an inconspicuous perch or during flight.
Preys almost entirely on small to medium-sized birds; also takes
large insects, scorpions, spiders, crayfish, toads, small
snakes, bats, and small mammals.
REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Evans 1982, Fox 1964,
Heintzelman 1979, McAtee 1935, Miller 1999, Shunk 2004, Sprunt
1955, Trimble 1975. |
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