Fauna Flora Photography

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.

How to Identify

Looks very similar to Peregrine Falcon. Distinguished characteristics are the beak proportions, colour of breast feathers and eyebrows.

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.

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Last updated on 2024-03-14. Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller, Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to parks in the Montreal area.