Merlin

Abstract

DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE The merlin breeds throughout most of Canada, Alaska, eastern Washington, in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, locally in Idaho (see below), Montana, northern Colorado, and east to the central Dakotas (Sodhi et al. 1993). North American merlins winter from southern Canada to the southern United States (although are absent entirely in the Midwest), south to Panama, the West Indies, Central America, northern South America, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru; the Caribbean Islands are the main wintering area of merlins that breed along the eastern seaboard (Sodhi et al. 1993). An analysis of sightings from Idaho confirms that the merlin is a common migrant and locally abundant winter resident, but a rare breeder (Craig and Craig 1989). Eight nests have been verified in Idaho, although other successful nesting attempts are suspected (Craig and Craig 1989). Craig and Renn (1977) documented 2 merlin nests, 1 in Blaine Co. in 1973 and the other in Butte Co. in 1975. While not specified, these records were probably of prairie falcon.