Merlin
Falco columbarius
The Merlin is a small, dark falcon that can be seen in Britain, particularly in the north and west, during the breeding season, and more widely during migration and winter. It is a rare but regular visitor to the UK, with most sightings occurring in coastal areas and open countryside.
Field Identification Guide
Use these features to identify Merlin in the field.
The Merlin can be identified by its compact, broad-winged shape, dark grey-brown back, and pale underside with dark streaks, as well as its distinctive white throat patch and dark tail with a white tip.
The Merlin is smaller than a Kestrel, being roughly the size of a Blackbird.
The male Merlin has a blue-grey back, wings, and tail, with a pale underside streaked with dark brown, and a white throat patch, with some seasonal variation in the intensity of the colours.
The female Merlin is similar to the male but has a brown back, wings, and tail, with a pale underside streaked with dark brown, and a white throat patch.
The Merlin's call is a sharp, high-pitched "kek-kek-kek" or "chee-chee-chee", often repeated in a rapid sequence.
Merlins are agile and swift fliers, chasing small birds and insects in mid-air, and can be seen hovering or perched on low vegetation, often near wetlands or coastal areas.
The Merlin can be confused with the Kestrel or the Sparrowhawk, but can be distinguished by its smaller size, more compact shape, and distinctive white throat patch, as well as its darker, more streaked underside.
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