Merlin - stmartins.at

Merlin sitting on the ground in the grass and looking sideways.

Dear explorer, dear explorers,

I have spent the past few months in the Seewinkel. I still have a little bit of time left here in Pannonia. But during the very first days of spring, I will fly back to my breeding grounds in Scandinavia. I am Europe's smallest falcon, as fast as lightning and as agile as none of my other relatives.

Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Merlin.

_{Header image: © Leander Khil}_{Picture credits: © Leander Khil}

Facts

Length: 25 - 33 cm
Wingspan: approx. 60 cm
Weight: 125 - 300 g
Life expectancy: up to 12 years

Appearance

Merlin with striped plumage in side view in flight.

_{Picture credits: © Leander Khil}

Merlins are very small falcons, only slightly larger than a thrush. As with many falcons and birds of prey, the females are larger and stronger than the males. The latter are more brightly coloured: steel-grey backs and rusty-orange undersides characterise older males (see “Habitat”). The females are coloured a cold grey-brown. The Eurasian sparrowhawk is similarly agile, small and hunts small birds. Unlike the sparrowhawk, however, the Merlin has pointed, long wings, as is typical for falcons, and upon closer inspection, many differences in plumage coloration: for example, the “malar stripe” running downwards from the eye – a characteristic feature of falcons.

Voice

Calls of a pair at the breeding site

Away from their breeding grounds, and thus also here in the Seewinkel, Merlins are largely silent. If spotting a Merlin is already something special, hearing its voice would be all the more extraordinary. This is most likely to happen when it is highly agitated, e.g. during a dispute with a competitor.

Food

Merlin in flight from behind, carrying feathered prey in its talons.

_{Picture credits: © Leander Khil}

Here in their wintering grounds, Merlins are specialised hunters of small birds. Wherever flocks of songbirds gather, they try their luck. In the Seewinkel, they can be seen hunting starlings, finches, pipits and shorebirds, for example. In summer, in the tundra, they also pursue small mammals (such as lemmings).

Reproduction

In the northern breeding grounds, the Merlin begins breeding around May. The female scratches out the nest hollow in old nests of crows or birds of prey, in rock niches, or, if there are neither trees nor rocks, on the ground. She lays 3-5 eggs in it, from which the chicks hatch after about 30 days. After another four weeks, the young birds leave the nest, and one month later they become independent. The offspring set off independently for the south as early as August.

Distribution

Merlins breed in the taiga and forest tundra of Eurasia and North America. Southward, the European breeding range extends to the Faroe Islands, Scotland and the Baltics. They migrate south in winter. The majority remain in Europe, but some even reach parts of Africa south of the Sahara.

Habitat

Merlin with blue-gray plumage sits on mossy ground.

_{Picture credits: © Leander Khil}

Open, treeless terrain suits the Merlin. This includes tundra areas, moors and heaths. In winter, they can be found on extensive pastures and meadows and in farmland. The birds often stay close to flocks of small birds, which they regularly hunt.

Hazards

Due to the negative effects of the insecticide DDT, the Merlin became very rare in Europe until the 1970s. With the ban on DDT, populations recovered again, and globally it is currently considered of least concern. However, populations are declining at the southern edge of its European distribution range (Great Britain, Denmark, the Baltics).

Where to find

Every sighting of a Merlin is a stroke of great luck, because they are always inconspicuous, prefer to stand on the ground rather than exposed on trees, and are not as conspicuous in flight as, for example, a common kestrel, instead flying fast and close to the ground. The fact that they are loners and do not appear in groups makes them even harder to find. However, the Merlin is a regular winter guest in the Seewinkel and sightings are achieved time and again, especially between September and March.

Videos with special content about the Merlin

Young merlin in the nest

Merlin captures sickle-billed sandpiper

Test your knowledge!

Discover a new species each month and, with a little luck, win a Seewinkel-Safari voucher for two.

Good luck with your participation and explorer greetings,
Your Nature Experience Team at ST. MARTINS Therme & Lodge

Conditions of participation:
The current prize draw runs until 30 December 2024. The winner of a safari voucher for two people will be determined from among all participants with the correct answer behind closed doors. The winner will be notified by email. A cash alternative for the prize and legal recourse are excluded.