Alternative Names (Synonyms)

• Faucon émerilon (French)
• Merlin (German)
• Smeriglio (Italian)
• Esmerejón (Spanish)
• Stenfalk (Swedish)
• Smelleken (Dutch)

Names for newly-hatched

Names for non-breeding males or other colour-phases

References

Species Author

Major References

Aviculture references:

• Wildlife and Countryside Directorate, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR)
• British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)
• The Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
• Hawk and Owl Trust
• Independent Bird Register
• The National Birds of Prey Centre
• Raptor Lifeline
• Raptor Rescue

• FALCONIFORMES (Diurnal Birds of Prey)

TAXA Group (where information has been collated for an entire group on a modular basis)

Parent Group

•  Birds of Prey

Specific Needs Group referenced in Management Techniques

• Birds of Prey

Aviculture Information

Notes

• Accommodation of Casualty Birds of Prey
• Hand-rearing Birds of Prey
• Catching and Handling of Birds of Prey
• Feeding of Casualty Birds of Prey
• Release of Casualty Birds of Prey

Measurement & Weight

• 26-33cm (B164); 30cm (B165); 27-32cm/10-13 inches (B166)
• Wingspan 55-69cm (B164)

Head

Legs

Plumage

• Head: crown blue-grey, moustache only indistinct, throat buff/white
• Upperparts blue-grey.
• Throat buff, chest and abdomen buff/rusty-yellow with fine dark streaks
• Tail medium length blue-grey with broad dark terminal band
• Wings sharply pointed upper surface blue-grey, primaries darker. Under surface heavily barred

B164, B165, B166

• Head and upperparts brown-grey. pale, 
• Throat whitish, Chest and abdomen pale with heavy streaking, particularly on breast B166
• Tail paler brown with several (about 5) darker bands; broad terminal dark band.
• Wings upper surface brown, under surface coverts buff with heavy darker barring, Flight feathers whitish with heavy dark barring B166

B164, B165, B166

Newly-hatched Characteristics

Nest placement and structure

Egg clutches

Incubation

Hatching

Fledging

Sexual Maturity

Feeding Behaviour

Parental Behaviour

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Social Behaviour

Sexual Behaviour

Predation in Wild

Activity Patterns

• Perches openly, takes off and lands from the ground as well as from vegetation.
• Strong and powerful flight, soaring, gliding and aerial dives.
• (B166)

Adults

Newly-hatched

Distribution and Movement (Migration etc.)

• In Britain: resident in northern and western upland moorland/hilly districts, elsewhere (mainly on coasts) winter visitor. (B165, B166).

Movements:

• Northern populations migratory to southern and western Europe (B164, B163)
• Winters to north-west Africa, Mediterranean, south-east Asia, northern South America (B89)

 --

Habitat

• Breeding: on fells in birch and willow zones, on taiga bogs, open coastal areas, heathland (B164); open areas particularly hilly moorland (B163)
• Winter: open areas including coasts and farmland (B163)

Intraspecific variation

Conservation Status

Long-term declines in Britain, also probably in Sweden and Finland (B163).

• This species is listed on Schedule 1 - Part I (Birds protected by special penalties: Notes on the revised schedules state "Birds protected by special penalties at all times") of the LUK2 - Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 of the United Kingdom. (W5.Oct01)
• This species is listed on Schedule 4 (Birds which must be registered and ringed if kept in captivity: Notes on the revised schedules state "Any bird, one of whose parents or other lineal ancestor was a bird of a kind specified in the above list") of the LUK2 - Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 of the United Kingdom. (W5.Oct01)

Captive Populations

Trade