Merlin

Falco columbarius (Linnaeus, 1758)

		male female
2015-05-10 Krasnoyarsky Kray. Zamyatino. 2015-09-14 Khakasia, Ulukgol lake	© Igor Latysh © Dmitry Dubikovskiy

Biology

Merlin is rare breeding migrant. Inhabits the forest-steppes, steppe rivers and lakes with bush or tree vegetation, the mountain mixed and coniferous forests with outskirts in altitudes to 2500-3000 m. In spring appears in March in southern areas, or in the end of April in northern ones. Migrates singly to late May. Breeds in separate pairs, at least 750 m, usually several kilometers apart. Nest is built on ground under the bush or grass tussock; from the dry twigs and is lined with grass. The birds of subspecies F.c.pallidus nest in old Crows nests in bushes, trees at 3-6 m above ground. Living in mountains birds of subspecies F.c.lymani nest mostly in the old Crows or Magpies nests, in trees and bushes, often at 10-15 m above the ground. Laying of 2-6 (usually 4-5) eggs is from early May to end of June. Both parents incubate clutch for about one month from the laying of first egg, mostly female incubates, male brings the food. Chicks are born in the end of June – July. Both parents feed nestlings which fledge at age 30 days old, in mid-July – August. The autumn migration begins from August, and continues to end of October.

References

В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Сибири". Москва-Екатеринбург, Изд-во "Кабинетный ученый", 2014.