Merlin
Falco columbarius
ok. 27 cmDorosły ptak
total length
total length
wzdłuż osi ciała · od końca dzioba do końca ogonaMeasurement: side
- Mass
- 160–240 gGeneral range — Cornell; populacje północnoamerykańskie, bez rozdzielenia płci
Merlin — size comparison
The merlin is a small Northern Hemisphere falcon. In North America it breeds in open and semi-open landscapes, including near clearings, water and small tree st
Silhouette comparison
Length
wzdłuż osi ciała · od końca dzioba do końca ogonaReference values · details in the profiles
Total lengthScale in cm
0102030
approx. 27 cm
The scale compares the named dimensions. View direction and measurement points are given for each animal.
Merlin — size comparison — facts and sources
The merlin is a small Northern Hemisphere falcon. In North America it breeds in open and semi-open landscapes, including near clearings, water and small tree stands. It increasingly also uses cities with sheltered breeding places and numerous small birds.
It most often catches prey in the air during fast, level pursuit. It hunts sparrows, larks and shorebirds, sometimes supplementing its diet with large insects or other small animals. It can attack a flock from below, forcing birds into an exhausting climb.
It usually does not build its own nest, taking over abandoned crow, raven or raptor structures. It is territorial near the brood. Outside breeding it is often solitary, although loose gatherings occur during migration and at roosts, and some birds winter in pairs.