The Merlin is a small but fierce falcon, compact and dark, that hunts with a fast, powerful, direct flight rather than the hovering of a kestrel. It relies on speed and surprise, overtaking small birds in level pursuit or a shallow stoop and often catching them in mid-air. Streaky and heavily marked, with pointed wings and a banded tail, Merlins are bold and sometimes pugnacious, chasing much larger raptors that stray into their airspace.
Once mainly a bird of the northern forests, the Merlin has become an increasingly common breeder in Michigan towns and cities, nesting in old crow and hawk nests in conifers and preying on the abundant small birds of suburban neighborhoods. Across the state it is best known as a migrant and winter visitor, frequently seen along Great Lakes shorelines during migration, where it hunts songbirds and, in the warmer months, snatches dragonflies out of the air.
Feeds mainly on small birds captured in fast, direct flight, taking a wide range of songbirds and shorebirds. It also catches large flying insects such as dragonflies, especially during migration, and hunts by speed and surprise rather than by hovering or soaring high.
The Merlin is darker, stockier, and more powerful, with a fast, direct, purposeful flight and heavily streaked underparts. The kestrel is more colorful, slimmer, and often hovers while hunting. Merlins rarely hover.
Yes. Once mainly northern forest birds, Merlins have increasingly colonized towns and cities, using old crow and hawk nests in conifers and preying on the plentiful small birds of urban and suburban areas.
Most often during migration, especially fall along Great Lakes shorelines, and in winter across open and edge habitats. A growing number now breed in Michigan communities year-round.
Juveniles and females are dark brown above with heavy streaking below; only adult males show the slate-blue back. Michigan's growing city-nesting population produces plenty of brown birds in late summer.
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