The merlin is a small species of falcon from the Northern Hemisphere, with numerous subspecies throughout North America and Eurasia. A bird of prey once known colloquially as a pigeon hawk in North America, the merlin breeds in the northern Holarctic; some migrate to subtropical and northern tropical regions in winter. Males typically have wingspans of 53–58 centimetres (21–23 in), with females being slightly larger. They are swift fliers and skilled hunters who specialize in preying on small birds in the size range of sparrows to quail. The merlin has for centuries been well regarded as a falconry bird. In recent decades merlin populations in North America have been significantly increasing, with some merlins becoming so well adapted to city life that they forgo migration. Source: Wikipedia
Citation:
Linnaeus, C 1758
Reference:
Systema Naturae ed. 10
1 p.90
Protonym:
Falco columbarius
Type locality:
America = South Carolina ex Catesby.
Link:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/10277#page/107/mode/1up
Avibase ID:
F3DA111CC8A6841B
Avibase ID:
avibase-F3DA111C
Short link:
https://avibase.ca/F3DA111C
Taxonomic Serial Number:
TSN: 175613
Geographic range:
Authorities recognizing this taxonomic concept:
African Bird Club Checklist 2004: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
African Bird Club Checklist August 2005: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
African Bird Club Checklist March 2007: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
African Bird Club Checklist January 2008: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
African Bird Club Checklist May 2009: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
African Bird Club Checklist March 2010: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 4th edition (incl. 21st suppl.): Pigeon Hawk ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 4th edition (incl. 22nd suppl.): Pigeon Hawk ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 4th edition (incl. 23rd suppl.): Pigeon Hawk ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 4th edition (incl. 24th suppl.): Pigeon Hawk ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 4th edition (incl. 25th suppl.): Pigeon Hawk ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 4th edition (incl. 26th suppl.): Pigeon Hawk ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 4th edition (incl. 27th suppl.): Pigeon Hawk ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 4th edition (incl. 28th suppl.): Pigeon Hawk ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 4th edition (incl. 29th suppl.): Pigeon Hawk ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 4th edition (incl. 30th suppl.): Pigeon Hawk ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 4th edition (incl. 31st suppl.): Pigeon Hawk ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 5th edition (1957): Pigeon Hawk ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 5th edition (incl. 32nd suppl.): Pigeon Hawk ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 5th edition (incl. 33rd suppl.): Pigeon Hawk ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 5th edition (incl. 34th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (1983): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 35th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 36th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 37th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 38th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 39th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 40th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 41st suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (1998): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 42nd suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 43rd suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 44th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 45th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 46th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 47th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 48th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 49th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 50th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 51st suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 52nd suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 53rd suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 54th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 55th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 56th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 57th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 58th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 59th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 60th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 61st suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 61st suppl. and addendum): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 62nd suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 63rd suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 64th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 65th suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts (current): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2023 (May 2023): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2024 (Oct 2024): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 01 (August 2013): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 02 (May 2014): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 03 (March 2015): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 04 (Aug 2016): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 05 (Jan 2017): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 06 (Feb 2018): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 07 (Feb 2020): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 08 (Feb 2021): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 00: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 01: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 02: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 03: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 04: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 05 (Jun 2012): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 05.1 (Oct 2012): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 06 (Nov 2013): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 06.1 (Feb 2014): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 07 (Jul 2014): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 08 (Oct 2015): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 09 (Dec 2016): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 09.1 (Jun 2017): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v2 (Dec 2017): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v3 (Nov 2018): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v4 (Dec 2019): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v5 (Dec 2020): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v6 (Dec 2021): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v6b (Jul 2022): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v7 (Dec 2022): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v8 (Dec 2023): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v9 (Oct 2024): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
British Ornithologists' Union Checklist (7th edition): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
British Ornithologists' Union Checklist (7th edition, incl. Jan 2009 suppl.): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Commission internationale pour les noms français des oiseaux (1993, révision 2009): Faucon émerillon ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Commission internationale pour les noms français des oiseaux (1993): Faucon émerillon ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements 1st edition: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2021: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2022: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2023: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2024: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements 3rd edition: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements 4th edition: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (as published): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2000 revisions): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2001 revisions): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2002 revisions): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2003 revisions): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2004 revisions): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2005 revisions): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2007 revisions): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2008 revisions): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2009 revisions): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (version 6.5 incl. 2010 revisions): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (version 6.6 incl. 2011 revisions): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (version 6.7 incl. 2012 revisions): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (version 6.8 incl. 2013 revisions): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (version 6.9 incl. 2014 revisions): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2015: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2016: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2017: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2018: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2019: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
eBird version 1.50: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
eBird version 1.52: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
eBird version 1.53: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
eBird version 1.54: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
eBird version 1.55: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
eBird version 2015: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
eBird version 2016: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
eBird version 2017: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
eBird version 2018: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
eBird version 2019: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
eBird version 2021: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
eBird version 2022: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
eBird version 2023: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
eBird version 2024: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 2nd edition: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 2nd edition (incl. ? suppl): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (as published): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 1.2): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 2.1): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 3.1): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 4): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 5): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 6): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 7): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 8): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 4th edition (vol. 1-2): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 4th edition (incl. corrigenda vol.1-2): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Handbook of the Birds of the World (vol 1-16): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (31/01/2015): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (03/07/2017): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Dec 2017): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Dec 2018): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.0: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.1: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.5: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.6: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.7: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.0: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.1: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.2: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.3: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.4: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.5: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.6: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.7: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.8: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.9: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.10: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.11: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.1: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.2: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.3: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.4: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.5: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.1: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.2: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.3: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.4: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.1: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.2: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.3: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.4: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.1: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.2: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.3: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.4: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.1: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.2: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.3: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.1: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.2: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.1: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.2: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.1: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.2: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.1: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.2: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.1: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.2: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.1: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.2: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.1: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.2: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Morony, Bock and Farrand: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Oriental Bird Club: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Peters' Check-list of the Birds: Falco columbarius [version 1] |
Peters' Check-list of the Birds (original): Falco columbarius [version 1] |
Peters' Check-list of the Birds (2nd edition): Falco columbarius [version 1] |
Sibley and Monroe (1993): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Sibley and Monroe (1993, including corrections up to 1998): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Sibley and Monroe, Birds of the World Version 2.0: Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (24/10/2003): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (14/09/2005): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (16/07/2006): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (26/09/2007): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (01/05/2008): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (30/09/2009): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (19/08/2010): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (8/08/2011): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (8/02/2012): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (4/09/2012): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (17/03/2013): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (9/02/2014): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (16/02/2015): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (28/07/2016): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (22/04/2017): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (4/06/2018): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (6/06/2019): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (20/02/2020): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (8/06/2020): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (24/08/2021): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (24/07/2022): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (28/09/2023): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
South American Classification Committee (27/07/2024): Merlin ( Falco columbarius) [version 1] |
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource: Falco columbarius [version 1] |
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource: Falco columbarius [version 1] |
Taxonomic status:
Species status: full species
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Other synonyms
See also the taxonomic synonyms table.
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