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Species of bird

Merlin
Merlin, nominate subspecies F. c. columbarius, in Prospect Park, New York
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Genus: Falco
Species:
F. columbarius
Binomial name
Falco columbarius
Subspecies

3–9 subspecies (see text)

Range of F. columbarius
  Summer only range
  Year-round range
  Winter only range
Synonyms

Aesalon columbarius (Linnaeus, 1758)
Falco aesalon Tunstall, 1771 (but see text)

The merlin (Falco columbarius) is a small species of falcon from the Northern Hemisphere,[2] with numerous subspecies throughout North America and Eurasia. A bird of prey, 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 which specialize in preying on small birds in the size range of sparrows to doves and medium-sized shorebirds. 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; in Europe, populations increased up to about 2000 but have been steady subsequently.[3] The merlin has for centuries been well regarded as a falconry bird.

Nomenclature

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The merlin was described and illustrated by the English naturalist Mark Catesby (as the "pigeon hawk") in his Natural history of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands published in 1729–1732.[4][5] Based on this description, in 1758 Carl Linnaeus included the species in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae and introduced the present binomial name Falco columbarius with the type locality as "America".[6] The genus name is Late Latin; falco derives from falx, falcis, a sickle, referring to the claws of the bird.[7] The species name columbarius is Latin for "of doves" from "columba", "dove".[8] Thirteen years after Linnaeus's description Marmaduke Tunstall recognized the Eurasian birds as a distinct taxon Falco aesalon in his Ornithologica Britannica. If two species of merlins are recognized, the Old World birds would thus bear the scientific name F. aesalon.[9][10]

The name "merlin" is derived from Old French esmerillon via Anglo-Norman merilun or meriliun. There are related Germanic words derived through older forms such as Middle Dutch smeerle, Old High German smerle and Old Icelandic smyrill.[11] Wycliffe's Bible, around 1382, mentions An Egle, & agriffyn, & a merlyon.[11] The species was once known as "pigeon hawk" in North America.[12]

Although the merlin's name looks and sounds like the name of the wizard Merlin prominent in Arthurian legend, the bird is not named after the wizard.[13] The wizard's name is an English cognate of the Welsh name "Myrddin" and is unrelated to the name of the bird.

Systematics

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European subspecies F. c. aesalon, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland

The relationships of the merlin are not resolved to satisfaction. In size, shape and coloration, it is fairly distinct among living falcons. The red-necked falcon is sometimes considered more closely related to the merlin than other falcons, but this seems to be a coincidence due to similar hunting habits; it could not be confirmed in more recent studies. Indeed, the merlin seems to represent a lineage distinct from other living falcons since at least the Early Pliocene, some 5 Ma (million years ago). As suggested by biogeography and DNA sequence data, it might be part of an ancient non-monophyletic radiation of Falco species from Europe to North America, alongside the ancestors of forms such as the American kestrel (F. sparvierus), and the aplomado falcon (F. femoralis) and its relatives. A relationship with the red-necked falcon (F. chicquera) was once proposed based on their phenetic similarity, but this is not considered likely today.[9][10][14][15][16] More recently, a genetic link to two tropical African species, grey kestrel Falco ardosiaceus and dickinson's kestrel F. dickinsoni has been found.[17]

In that regard, a fossil falcon from the Early Blancan (4.3–4.8 Ma)[18] Rexroad Formation of Kansas. Known from an almost complete right coracoid (specimen UMMP V29107) and some tarsometatarsus, tibiotarsus and humerus pieces (V27159, V57508-V57510, V57513-V57514), this prehistoric falcon was slightly smaller than a merlin and apparently a bit more stout-footed, but otherwise quite similar. It was part of the Fox Canyon and Rexroad Local Faunas, and may have been the ancestor of the living merlins or its close relative. With its age quite certainly pre-dating the split between the Eurasian and North American merlins, the fossil falcon supports the idea of the merlin lineage originating in North America, or rather the colonization thereof. After adapting to its ecological niche, ancient merlins would have spread to Eurasia again, with gene flow being interrupted as the Beringia and Greenland regions became icebound in the Quaternary glaciation.[10][14][19]

Subspecies

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That the merlin has a long-standing presence on both sides of the Atlantic is evidenced by the degree of genetic distinctness between Eurasian and North American populations. They are probably best considered distinct species, with gene flow having ceased at least a million years ago, but probably more;[10][17] but more study is required, particularly in the less-sampled subspecies, before a formal split can be made.[20]

By and large, color variation in either group independently follows Gloger's Rule. The Pacific temperate rain forest subspecies F. c. suckleyi males are almost uniformly black on the upperside and have heavy black blotches on the belly, whereas those of the lightest subspecies, F. c. pallidus, have little non-dilute melanin altogether, with gray upperside and reddish underside pattern.[9] Nine subspecies are currently accepted:[20]

Coastal forest merlin (F. c. suckelyi), Lake Los Carneros Park, Goleta, California, United States

American group (Falco columbarius sensu stricto)[9]

  • Falco columbarius columbarius (Linnaeus, 1758) – taiga merlin, boreal merlin, tundra merlin
Canada and northernmost United States east of Rocky Mountains, except Great Plains. Migratory, winters in S North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and N South America from the Guyanas to the northern Andes foothills. Rarely winters in the northern USA.[12][21]
  • Falco columbarius richardsonii (Ridgway, 1871) – prairie merlin
Great Plains from Alberta to Wyoming. Resident (some winter dispersal). Paler than F. c. columbarius.
  • Falco columbarius suckleyi (Ridgway, 1873) – black merlin, coastal forest merlin
Pacific coast of North America, from S Alaska to N Washington state. Resident (some altitudinal movements).

Eurasian group (Falco aesalon if split)[9]

  • Falco columbarius/aesalon subaesalon (C.L. Brehm, 1827) – Icelandic merlin
Iceland and Faroe Islands. The Faroese population has some gene flow with F. c. aesalon. Resident or some winter dispersal to coasts.
  • Falco columbarius/aesalon aesalon (Tunstall, 1771) – Eurasian merlin
Northern Eurasia from British Isles through Scandinavia to central Siberia. Population of northern Britain shows evidence of gene flow from F. c. subaesalon. British Isles population resident or short-distance movement from moors to coasts, rest migratory; winters in Europe and the Mediterranean region to about Iran.
Male (presumably F. c./a. pallidus) wintering in Little Rann of Kutch (Gujarat, India)
  • Falco columbarius/aesalon pallidus (Sushkin, 1900) – pallid merlin, steppe merlin
Asian steppes between Aral Sea and Altay Mountains. Migratory, winters in S Central Asia and N South Asia.
  • Falco columbarius/aesalon insignis (Clark, 1907) – East Siberian merlin
Siberia between Yenisei and Kolyma Rivers. Migratory, winters in continental East Asia.
  • Falco columbarius/aesalon lymani (Bangs, 1913) – Central Asian merlin
Mountains of eastern Kazakhstan and surrounding countries. Short-distance migrant.
  • Falco columbarius/aesalon pacificus (Stegmann, 1929) – Pacific merlin
Russian Far East to Sakhalin. Migratory, winters in Japan, Korea and nearby.

Description

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Juvenile, F. c. columbarius

The merlin is 24–33 cm (9.4–13.0 in) long with a 50–73 cm (20–29 in) wingspan.[22] Compared with most other small falcons, it is more robust and heavily built. Males average at about 165 g (5.8 oz) and females are typically about 230 g (8.1 oz). There is considerable variation, however, throughout the birds' range and—in particular in migratory populations—over the course of a year. Thus, adult males may weigh 125–210 g (4.4–7.4 oz), and females 190–300 g (6.7–10.6 oz). Each wing measures 18.2–23.8 cm (7.2–9.4 in), the tail measures 12.7–18.5 cm (5.0–7.3 in) and the tarsus measures 3.7 cm (1.5 in).[22][23] Such sexual dimorphism is common among raptors; it allows males and females to hunt different prey animals and decreases the territory size needed to feed a mated pair.[9][24]

The male merlin has a blue-gray back, ranging from almost black to silver-gray in different subspecies. Its underparts are buff- to orange-tinted and more or less heavily streaked with black to reddish brown. The female and immature are brownish-gray to dark brown above, and whitish buff spotted with brown below. Besides a weak whitish supercilium and the faint dark malar stripe—which are barely recognizable in both the palest and the darkest birds—the face of the merlin is less strongly patterned than in most other falcons. Nestlings are covered in pale buff down feathers, shading to whitish on the belly.[24]

Upperside pattern of male (presumably F. c./a. pallidus) wintering in Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, India

The remiges are blackish, and the tail usually has some three to four wide, blackish bands, too. Very light males only have faint and narrow medium-gray bands, while in the darkest birds the bands are very wide, so that the tail appears to have narrow lighter bands instead. In all of them, however, the tail tip is black with a narrow white band at the very end, a pattern possibly plesiomorphic for all falcons. Altogether, the tail pattern is quite distinct though, resembling only that of the aplomado falcon (F. berigora) and (in light merlins) some typical kestrels. The eye and beak are dark, the latter with a yellow cere. The feet are also yellow, with black claws.[24]

Light American males may resemble the American kestrel (F. sparverius, not a typical kestrel), but merlin males have a gray back and tail rather than the reddish-brown of the kestrels. Light European males can be distinguished from kestrels by their mainly brown wings. In the north of South Asia, wintering males may be confused with the red-necked falcon () if they fly away from the observer and the head (red on top in ) and underside (finely barred with black in ) are not visible.

Relationship with humans

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A male smyril is featured on this Faroese stamp by Edward Fuglø

John James Audubon illustrated the merlin in the second edition of Birds of America (published in London, 1827–38) as Plate 75, under the title, "Le Petit Caporal – Falco temerarius". The image was engraved and colored by Robert Havell's London workshops. The original watercolor by Audubon was purchased by the New York History Society,[42] where it remains as of January 2009.

William Lewin illustrates the merlin as Plate 22 in volume 1 of his Birds of Great Britain and their Eggs, published 1789 in London.

Use in falconry

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In medieval Europe, merlins were popular in falconry: the Book of St. Albans listed it as "the falcon for a lady", where it was noted for classic "ringing" (circling rapidly upward) pursuits of the English skylark.[43] Though the merlin is only slightly larger than the American kestrel in dimensions, it averages about one third to one half larger by weight, with this weight mostly being extra muscle that gives it greater speed and endurance than the kestrel.[43] Like the American kestrel, the merlin offers the modern falconer the ability to hunt year round against sparrows and starlings, in urban settings not requiring large tracts of land or hunting dogs, with the additional advantage of being able to reliably take small game birds such as dove and quail during hunting season. A large and exceptionally aggressive female merlin may take prey as large as pigeons and occasionally even small ducks.[44] They also offer an exciting style of flight, generally at closer range than large falcons where it may be more clearly witnessed and enjoyed by the falconer. In addition to horizontal tail-chases in the manner of American kestrels, they will also "ring up" in pursuit of prey that seeks to escape by out-climbing them, and perform high speed diving stoops on prey beneath them in the manner of larger falcons. Quoting from one popular falconry book on the eagerness of merlins to chase a swung lure, "Every stoop, outrun, dodge, and aerial maneuver of a hard flight to real quarry can be duplicated with no risk of loss of the falcon. Merlins regularly flown to the lure take most field quarries with such ease and such assurance as to make the field flight the less interesting and exciting of the two."[43]

Quoting expert falconer Matthew Mullenix, author of the book "American Kestrels in Modern Falconry", in an article comparing the American kestrel to the merlin he states "What a merlin gives you is raw power: lots of it. It brings an ability to negate wind as a factor, to stay airborne at a tremendous clip then gear down further at any time for more performance. One merlin can dominate an entire flock of frightened birds, directing its fate as a whole. The flock responds like bait fish to a barracuda and for precisely the same reason. Merlins demonstrate total mastery of their element."[45] Concerning suitable game for these two species, he states "To snipe, dove, quail and open-country sparrows, merlins are best suited. For most blackbirds (Icteridea), either falcon can prove effective. Starlings in close are extremely vulnerable to kestrels; but in the open are best prey for merlins."

Status and conservation

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Hunter with trained merlin, Jandari Lake, Georgia SSR, November 1979

Altogether, the merlin is not particularly rare, and due to this and its wide range it is considered a species of least concern by the IUCN.[1] Its numbers are—except in the Asian part of its range, where the situation is less well determined—regularly censused. In about every major country it inhabits, many hundreds to many thousands are found, ranging from a "mere" 250–300 pairs in Belarus to perhaps as many as 30,000 pairs of aesalon in European Russia as determined in 1993. It is listed on CITES Appendix II and on a local level protected as other birds of prey; while some countries allow to capture merlins, e.g. for falconry, international trade requires an export permit.[1][9]

By far the most serious long-term threat to these birds is habitat destruction, especially in their breeding areas. Ground-nesting populations in moorland have a preference for tall heather, and are thus susceptible to overmanagement by burning vast tracts instead of creating a habitat mosaic containing old and new growth. Still, the merlin is rather euryoecious (adaptable to various conditions) and will even live in settled areas, provided they have the proper mix of low and high vegetation, as well as sufficient prey (which is usually the case) and nesting sites (which is a common limiting factor).[9]

In North America, the species seems to have been more widespread in the past, or perhaps its range has shifted northwards: F. c. columbarius was an uncommon breeding bird in Ohio before the 20th century, but in Seneca County, as early as the 1900s even single adults were rarely seen in the breeding season. It is encountered in Ohio as a passage migrant and rarely as a winter guest, though two recent nestings have been confirmed. Changing land-use in Ohio mainly turned forest into agricultural land and thus is not very likely to have rendered the region inhospitable to the merlin; global warming on the other hand cannot be dismissed as a reason, given that the merlin is essentially a subarctic species that barely ranges even into temperate climes. Also, it may be that the number of merlins wintering in the northern USA has increased during the 20th century.[12][9][21]

Perhaps the most frequent cause of accidental death for individuals is collision with man-made objects, particularly during attacks. This may account for almost half of all premature deaths of merlins. In the 1960s and 1970s, organochlorine pesticides were responsible for declines—particularly in Canada—due to eggshell thinning and subsequent brood failure, and compromising the immune system of adults. This has since been remedied with restrictions on the use of DDT and similar chemicals, and numbers have rebounded. Overall, merlin stocks appear globally stable; while they may decline temporarily in places, they will usually increase again eventually, suggesting that this phenomenon is due to the fluctuations of supplementary food stocks discussed above.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 BirdLife International (2021). "Falco columbarius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021 e.T22696453A154505853. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22696453A154505853.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ↑ "Merlin Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology". www.allaboutbirds.org. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  3. ↑ European Breeding Bird Atlas 2. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. 2020. p. 521. ISBN 978-84-16728-38-1.
  4. ↑ Catesby, Mark (1729–1732). The natural history of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands (in English and French). Vol. 1. London: W. Innys and R. Manby. p. 3, plate 3.
  5. ↑ "Merlin". Audubon. 2014-11-13. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
  6. ↑ Linnaeus, Carl (1758). Systema Naturæ per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1 (10th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 90.
  7. ↑ Shorter Oxford English dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2007. p. 3804. ISBN 978-0-19-920687-2.
  8. ↑ Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 114, 266. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 White, Clayton M. (1994). "Merlin". In del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A.; Sargatal, J. (eds.). Handbook of Birds of the World. Vol. 2: New World vultures to Guineafowl 267, plate 27. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-87334-15-6.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Wink, Michael; Seibold, I.; Lotfikhah, F.; Bednarek, W. (1998). Chancellor, R.D.; Meyburg, B.-U.; Ferrero, J.J. (eds.). Molecular systematics of holarctic raptors (Order Falconiformes) (PDF). Holarctic Birds of Prey. Adenex & WWGBP. pp. 29–48.
  11. 1 2 "merlin". Oxford English Dictionary (online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  12. 1 2 3 Henninger, W.F. (1906). "A preliminary list of the birds of Seneca County, Ohio" (PDF). Wilson Bulletin. 18 (2): 47–60.
  13. ↑ "Bird of The Week: Merlin". Kern Audubon Society. February 28, 2021. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  14. 1 2 Helbig, A.J.; Seibold, I.; Bednarek, W.; Brüning, H.; Gaucher, P.; Ristow, D.; Scharlau, W.; Schmidl, D.; Wink, Michael (1994). Meyburg, B.-U.; Chancellor, R.D. (eds.). Phylogenetic relationships among falcon species (genus Falco) according to DNA sequence variation of the cytochrome b gene (PDF). Raptor conservation today. pp. 593–599.
  15. ↑ Griffiths, Carole S. (1999). "Phylogeny of the Falconidae inferred from molecular and morphological data" (PDF). Auk. 116 (1): 116–130. doi:10.2307/4089459. JSTOR 4089459.
  16. ↑ Groombridge, Jim J.; Jones, Carl; Bayes, Michelle K.; van Zyl, Anthony J.; Carrillo, José; Nichols, Richard A.; Bruford, Michael W. (2002). "A molecular phylogeny of African kestrels with reference to divergence across the Indian Ocean". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 25 (2): 267–277. Bibcode:2002MolPE..25..267G. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00254-3. PMID 12414309.
  17. 1 2 Fuchs, Jérôme; Johnson, Jeff A.; Mindell, David P. (2015). "Rapid diversification of falcons (Aves: Falconidae) due to expansion of open habitats in the Late Miocene". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 82: 166–182. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2014.08.010.
  18. ↑ Martin, R.A.; Honey, J.G.; Pelaez-Campomanes, P. (2000). "The Meade Basin Rodent Project; a progress report. Kansas Geological Survey Open-file Report 2000-61". Paludicola. 3 (1): 1–32.
  19. ↑ Feduccia, J. Alan; Ford, Norman L. (1970). "Some birds of prey from the Upper Pliocene of Kansas" (PDF). Auk. 87 (4): 795–797. doi:10.2307/4083714. JSTOR 4083714.
  20. 1 2 "Seriemas, falcons – IOC World Bird List". IOC World Bird List – Version 14.2. 2024-08-17. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  21. 1 2 3 "Annotated Ohio state checklist" (PDF). Ohio Ornithological Society (OOS). 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2004. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  22. 1 2 Ferguson-Lees, James; Christie, David A. (2001). Raptors of the World. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-618-12762-3.
  23. ↑ Davis, Kate (2002). Falcons of North America. Mountain Press Publishing Company.
  24. 1 2 3 4 White, Clayton M.; Olsen, Penny D.; Kiff, Lloyd F. (1994). "Family Falconidae". In del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A.; Sargatal, J. (eds.). Handbook of Birds of the World. Vol. 2: New World vultures to Guineafowl): 216–275, plates 24–28. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-87334-15-6.
  25. ↑ del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A.; Sargatal, eds. (1996). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2: New World vultures to Guineafowl. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-87334-20-2.
  26. 1 2 Olson, Storrs L.; James, Helen F.; Meister, Charles A. (1981). "Winter field notes and specimen weights of Cayman Island Birds" (PDF). Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. 101 (3): 339–346. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-27. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  27. 1 2 3 4 "Falco columbarius (Merlin)". Animal Diversity Web.
  28. ↑ Ferguson-Lees, J. & Christie, D.A. & Franklin, K. & Mead, D. & Burton, P.. (2001). Raptors of the world. Helm Identification Guides.
  29. ↑ "Merlin". Carolina Raptor Center. Archived from the original on 27 July 2010.
  30. ↑ Ferguson-Lees, J. & Christie, D.A. & Franklin, K. & Mead, D. & Burton, P.. (2001). Raptors of the world. Helm Identification Guides.
  31. ↑ Ferguson-Lees, J. & Christie, D.A. & Franklin, K. & Mead, D. & Burton, P.. (2001). Raptors of the world. Helm Identification Guides.
  32. ↑ Warkentin, Ian G.; Oliphant, Lynn W. (1988). "Seasonal Predation of Large Prey by Merlins" (PDF). The Wilson Bulletin. 100 (1): 137–139. JSTOR 4162530.
  33. 1 2 Hailey, A. "Falco columbarius (Merlin)" (PDF). UWI St. Augustine. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  34. ↑ Ferguson-Lees, J. & Christie, D.A. & Franklin, K. & Mead, D. & Burton, P.. (2001). Raptors of the world. Helm Identification Guides.
  35. ↑ Mikula, P.; Morelli, F.; Lučan, R. K.; Jones, D. N.; Tryjanowski, P. (2016). "Bats as prey of diurnal birds: a global perspective". Mammal Review. 46 (3): 160–174. doi:10.1111/mam.12060. hdl:11104/0259798.
  36. ↑ Ferguson-Lees, J. & Christie, D.A. & Franklin, K. & Mead, D. & Burton, P.. (2001). Raptors of the world. Helm Identification Guides.
  37. ↑ Ferguson-Lees, J. & Christie, D.A. & Franklin, K. & Mead, D. & Burton, P.. (2001). Raptors of the world. Helm Identification Guides.
  38. ↑ "Merlin". The Peregrine Fund. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  39. ↑ Ferguson-Lees, J. & Christie, D.A. & Franklin, K. & Mead, D. & Burton, P.. (2001). Raptors of the world. Helm Identification Guides.
  40. ↑ Dunn, Pete (2012). Hawks in Flight (Second ed.). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
  41. ↑ "Falco columbarius life history data". AnAge]. 2009.
  42. ↑ "Audubon's Watercolors: The Complete Avian Collection: The New-York Historical Society Edition". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  43. 1 2 3 Beebe, Frank (1984). A Falconry Manual. Hancock House Publishers. ISBN 0-88839-978-2.
  44. ↑ "Merlin | Hawk Mountain Sanctuary: Learn Visit Join". www.hawkmountain.org. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  45. ↑ "Merlin Falconry by Eric Edwards". www.merlinfalconry.com. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
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Historical material

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