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Northwest Merlin Insights

Taxonomy And Etymology

Nine subspecies (including the three in North America) of Merlin are found worldwide above 47 degrees north latitude. The Coastal Forest Merlin breeds in the Temperate Coastal Rain Forest, the Taiga Merlin in boreal forest and tundra (taiga), and the Prairie Merlin in prairies and parklands. Subspecies type specimens reside in the National (Smithsonian) Museum in Washington D.C. and the University of North Carolina. The Coastal Forest Merlin Project follows Dr. Stanley Temple's 1970 master's thesis study of North American Merlin ecozone designations.

The Merlin was previously known in North America as the Pigeon Hawk because it looks and flies like a pigeon. The species name of the Merlin refers to the genus of the pigeon, Columba, transferred to columbarius, of the Merlin. Merlin derives from the old French Faucon ésmerillon and Spanish Esmerejón. Falco means hooked bill and curved or scythe-like talons (claws). Suckleyi refers to naturalist Dr. George Suckley, who with Dr. John G. Cooper and G. Gibbs accompanied the Northern Pacific Railroad Survey, commanded by Isaac I. Stevens, governor of Washington Territory. They explored roughly along the 47th parallel between St. Paul, MN and Puget Sound on the Pacific coast in 1853-1855. Suckley's reports on the mammals, water birds, and fishes collected during the expedition appeared in the official publication issued by Isaac I. Stevens (Supplementary Report of Explorations for a Route for a Pacific Railroad (1859), volume 12 of Pacific Railroad Surveys.) Dr. Suckley collected the type specimen of the "Black" Merlin at Shoalwater Bay, Washington. A type specimen is the original on which all descriptions are based. This juvenile male specimen, a dark melanin-saturated individual, now resides in the National (Smithsonian) Museum.

Identification

The so-called Black Merlin (most field guides still refer to it by this name) is not really black, but chestnut brown on the back and white with dark or chestnut brown streaks underneath (throat to lower abdomen). Second-year males molt into the purple-blue back color (as seen in sunlight; otherwise it looks dark brown) while adult and juvenile females retain the dark or chestnut brown coloration year round. This is called sexual dichromaticism, which is unique to the Falconidae. Females are ¼ larger than the male, which is called sexual dimorphism.

Older avian references refer to four Merlin subspecies in North America; the fourth one, F. c. benderi, was a paler form of the Taiga Merlin of the western continent. Temple and other modern taxonomists believe this is no longer a valid subspecies.

Migration

Merlins disperse from natal (birth) sites and migrate in a broad range of North American habitats. Distance and direction of F. c. suckleyi migration is unknown because there is no data available from banding. Competent biologists suggest there is migration into mid-California.

Winter

Climatic influences determine the presence of songbirds and their Merlin predator outside of the breeding season. In temperate environs both songbirds and Merlins may remain through mild winters. However, some individuals, perhaps from northern latitudes, may travel farther south. Our study and a few experienced observers conclude that during winter Taiga Merlins outnumber Coastal Forest Merlins in Washington.

Breeding

Coastal Forest Merlins begin their courtship activities in February-March. Males and females call and chase each other in elaborate and ritualized displays. Male Merlins show females nesting platforms and bring them food. Females also hunt but become increasingly sedentary, possibly to test the male's ability to provide her with food. If she stays in the pair bond she'll lay 3-5 eggs in late April-early May. Hatching is in late May-early June. Nestlings fledge in 4-5 weeks. Fledglings may remain around the breeding territory for another 4-5 weeks, learning to hunt.

Habitat

Northwest Coastal Forest Merlins are found during the breeding season in ancient (old-growth) to young forests where nest platforms are available. In the last 10 years nesting has also occurred in urban settings of Washington and British Columbia. During migration and winter, Coastal Forest Merlins may be found in diverse habitats where their prey species occur.

Food

Bald Eagle

Merlins are bird-prey specialists focusing on passerine (perching songbirds) and shorebirds. They also take aerial insects and a very small number of mammals. In the Northwest, Merlins eat a wide variety of resident and Neotropical migrants (birds that migrate from Central and South America).

Behavior

Merlin's annual behavioral ecology is a fascinating study subject and a core element of our project. Fieldwork, data entry and analysis continue so we can share the untold story of this enigmatic forest falcon.

Population Status And Distribution

Coastal Forest Merlins appear uncommon to rare, but their true status is still regionally undetermined. 25 years of fieldwork in Washington provides the empirical evidence that Coastal Forest Merlins are less common than Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, Spotted Owls, and Marbled Murrelets-all threatened or endangered species.

The Coastal Forest Merlin's historical distribution was presumed to be from southern Puget Sound in Washington to northern British Columbia west of the Cascade and Coast mountain ranges. Current distribution may be similar but is still being refined and will take a considerable effort to confirm. Appropriate habitat for the annual life cycle is also constantly fluctuating, probably in response to human-modified landscapes.

Integrating Northwest people's lifestyles with those wildlife communities with whom we share the land is an achievable goal. We believe that knowledge about salmon, eagles, amphibians, bats, Merlins and other wildlife helps us all to understand and maintain the diversity we all need in our lives.

Merlin Vocalizations