Merlin

Falco columbarius

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
ABNKD06030
Common Name: 
Merlin
Scientific Name: 
Falco columbarius
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Falconiformes
Family: 
Falconidae
References: 
B004
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

by age 2; average age at first breeding 1.9 yr ± 0.7 SD for males, 1.3 yr ± 0.6 for females (Lieske et al. 1997).
References: 
B131

Longevity

Most individuals have a short life span, maximum life span seldom exceeds 8 yr (Oliphant et al. in press).
References: 
B131
Habitat
open to semi-open habitat for foraging and trees or cliffs for nesting
References: 
R059
Distribution

Ecozones

Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Cordillera, Boreal Plains
References: 
R059

Distribution

0.72
Score: 
G
References: 
R059
Winter Distribution Description: 
southern BC to South America

Number of Occurrences

more than 100
Score: 
D

Area of Occupancy

Probably stable
Score: 
-
References: 
LWR01
R059
W027
B131
Population

Population Size

far below that of other small diurnal raptors
References: 
R059
Trends

Trends

largely appear to have recovered from declines of the 1960s associated with pesticides and other contaminants. BBS datasets for Canada (Kirk and Hyslop 1998, Downes 2003) and CBC regional and continental datasets (Kirk and Hyslop 1998; Hoffman and Smith 2003) suggest either overall stable or increasing populations from the 1960s through early 2000s, with significant increases occurring in the 1990s. (B131); Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) samples the species poorly, but hawk watch sites also indicate dramatic increases (Titus and Fuller 1990, Hussell and Brown 1992)(W027)
References: 
LWR01
R059
W027
B131
Threats

Threats

In past organochloride contamination, human persecution; limited in NWT in past and present
References: 
H126
R059

Intrinsic Vulnerability

in South loss of habitat to agriculture. None known in NWT
Score: 
C
References: 
H126
R059
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
But numbers and occurences not well known
S Rank: 
S5
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Suzanne Carriere based on printed references. Reviewed in 2005 by S Carrière based on printed literature only :no change in rank; Reviewed in 2010;no change; Reviewed in 2015, no change; Reviewed in 2020, no change
Last Updated: 
June 18, 2020
Status Designations

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSEWIC Status: 
Not At Risk
References: 
R059

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Warkentin, I. G., N. S. Sodhi, R. H. M. Espie, and A. F. Poole. (2005) Merlin (Falco columbarius). The Birds of North America Online.. (A. Poole, Ed.) Ithaca: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology; Retrieved from The Birds of North American Online database. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA/account/Merlin/. - B131 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • Downes, C.M., E.H. Dunn and C.M Francis (2000) Canadian Landbird Monitoring Strategy: monitoring needs and priorities into the new millenium.. Partners in Flight - Canada A 9-15 EC-CWS, Yellowknife (L. Wakelyn) - or communicate with Erica H. Dunn, CWS in Hull, QC, at erica.dunn@ec,gc,ca - LWR01 Return
  • de Smet KD (1985) Status report on the merlin Falco columbarius in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R059 Return
  • Dunn, E.H (2005) National action needs for Canadian Landbird Conservation,. Canadian Wildlife Service Landbird Committee, Version 1. [http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/birds/action/index_e.cfm]. - W027 Return
  • Warkentin, I. G., N. S. Sodhi, R. H. M. Espie, and A. F. Poole. (2005) Merlin (Falco columbarius). The Birds of North America Online.. (A. Poole, Ed.) Ithaca: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology; Retrieved from The Birds of North American Online database. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA/account/Merlin/. - B131 Return
COSEWIC Status
  • de Smet KD (1985) Status report on the merlin Falco columbarius in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R059 Return

Ecozones

  • de Smet KD (1985) Status report on the merlin Falco columbarius in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R059 Return

Habitat

  • de Smet KD (1985) Status report on the merlin Falco columbarius in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R059 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return
  • de Smet KD (1985) Status report on the merlin Falco columbarius in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R059 Return

Longevity

  • Warkentin, I. G., N. S. Sodhi, R. H. M. Espie, and A. F. Poole. (2005) Merlin (Falco columbarius). The Birds of North America Online.. (A. Poole, Ed.) Ithaca: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology; Retrieved from The Birds of North American Online database. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA/account/Merlin/. - B131 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

de Smet KD (1985) Status report on the merlin Falco columbarius in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R059 Return

Population Size

de Smet KD (1985) Status report on the merlin Falco columbarius in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R059 Return

Range Extent

  • de Smet KD (1985) Status report on the merlin Falco columbarius in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R059 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Downes, C.M., E.H. Dunn and C.M Francis (2000) Canadian Landbird Monitoring Strategy: monitoring needs and priorities into the new millenium.. Partners in Flight - Canada A 9-15 EC-CWS, Yellowknife (L. Wakelyn) - or communicate with Erica H. Dunn, CWS in Hull, QC, at erica.dunn@ec,gc,ca - LWR01 Return
  • de Smet KD (1985) Status report on the merlin Falco columbarius in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R059 Return
  • Dunn, E.H (2005) National action needs for Canadian Landbird Conservation,. Canadian Wildlife Service Landbird Committee, Version 1. [http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/birds/action/index_e.cfm]. - W027 Return
  • Warkentin, I. G., N. S. Sodhi, R. H. M. Espie, and A. F. Poole. (2005) Merlin (Falco columbarius). The Birds of North America Online.. (A. Poole, Ed.) Ithaca: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology; Retrieved from The Birds of North American Online database. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA/account/Merlin/. - B131 Return

Taxonomy

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Threats

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return
  • de Smet KD (1985) Status report on the merlin Falco columbarius in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R059 Return