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Manatee County

Audubon Society

Merlin

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Name

Merlin

Scientific Name

(Falco columbarius)

Why they are special:
  • A small but powerful falcon, the Merlin is known for its speed and fierce hunting style.

  • Unlike the colorful American Kestrel, Merlins are darker, stockier, and more aggressive in flight.

  • At Felts and throughout Manatee County, they are thrilling to see as they migrate through in fall and winter.

Size and color:
  • A small falcon, about 9–13 inches long with a wingspan of 20–26 inches.

  • Plumage varies by sex and region:

    • Males: slate-gray above, light underparts with streaking.

    • Females/immatures: brown above with heavier streaking below.

  • Compact body, pointed wings, and a strong, direct flight pattern.

Seasonality in Florida:
  • A migrant and winter visitor across Florida, including Manatee County.

  • Most often seen from October through March.

Habitat:
  • Favor open fields, wetlands, coastal areas, and grasslands during migration.

  • At Felts, look for them hunting over the pasture or flushing flocks of small birds.

Diet:
  • Primarily small to medium-sized birds—Merlins are specialists in aerial pursuit.

  • Also take large insects and the occasional small mammal or reptile.

Behavior:
  • Fast, aggressive hunters that chase prey in direct, powerful flight.

  • Unlike kestrels, Merlins rarely hover—they rely on speed and surprise.

  • Often hunt by scattering flocks of shorebirds, blackbirds, or doves and picking off a target.

Conservation notes:
  • Populations have rebounded in North America after declines due to pesticide use in the mid-20th century.

  • Protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Best time to see:
  • Fall and winter during migration, especially near open fields or coastal areas.

  • At Felts, watch for quick, low, fast-moving silhouettes flushing small birds.

Fun Fact:
  • Medieval falconers prized Merlins—noblewomen often flew them to hunt skylarks, earning the Merlin a reputation as the “lady’s falcon.”

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