Merlin
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Merlin

Falco columbarius

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve
44 Verified sightings at El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve From 2019 to 2026
7,438 Verified sightings across all 93 parks From 2019 to 2026
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Merlin

The merlin (Falco columbarius) is a small species of falcon from the Northern Hemisphere, with numerous subspecies throughout North America and Eurasia. A bird of prey, the merlin breeds in the northern Holarctic; some migrate to subtropical and northern tropical regions in winter. Males typically have wingspans of 53–58 centimetres (21–23 in), with females being slightly larger. They are swift fliers and skilled hunters, which specialize in preying on small birds in the size range of sparrows to doves and medium-sized shorebirds. In recent decades, merlin populations in North America have been significantly increasing, with some merlins becoming so well adapted to city life that they forgo migration; in Europe, populations increased up to about 2000, but have been steady subsequently. The merlin has for centuries been well regarded as a falconry bird.

The scientific classification of the merlin (Falco columbarius) represents a crucial bridge between early colonial natural history and the birth of modern taxonomy. In the early 18th century, English naturalist Mark Catesby traveled through the American colonies and documented the bird under the colloquial name "pigeon... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve

American Kestrel
LC

American Kestrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco sparverius

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Peregrine Falcon
LC

Peregrine Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco peregrinus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Prairie Falcon
LC

Prairie Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco mexicanus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Crested Caracara
LC

Crested Caracara

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Caracara plancus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Katmai National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
2 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
3 Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park 🇯🇲 Jamaica
~10%
4 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
5 Main Ridge Forest Reserve 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
~10%
6 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
7 Cabo Pulmo National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
8 Ciénaga de Zapata 🇨🇺 Cuba
~10%
9 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
~10%
10 Irazú Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
11 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
12 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
13 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
14 Thingvellir National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
~10%
15 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
16 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
17 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
18 Los Haitises National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
~10%
19 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
20 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
21 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
22 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
23 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
24 Caroni Swamp 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
<5%
25 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
<5%
26 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
27 Hortobágy National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
<5%
28 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
29 Jaragua National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
<5%
30 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
31 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
<5%
32 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
33 Doñana National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
34 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
<5%
35 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
36 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
37 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
38 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
39 Camargue 🇫🇷 France
<5%
40 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
<5%
41 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
42 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
<5%
43 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
<5%
44 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
45 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
46 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
47 Puracé National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
48 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
<5%
49 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
50 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
51 Monfragüe National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
52 Volcán Barú National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
53 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
54 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
55 Los Nevados National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
56 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
57 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
58 Tayrona National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
59 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
60 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
61 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
62 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
63 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
64 Farallones de Cali National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
65 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
66 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
67 Vanoise National Park 🇫🇷 France
Insufficient data
68 Celaque National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
69 Hohe Tauern National Park 🇦🇹 Austria
Insufficient data
70 Poás Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
71 Aigüestortes National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
Insufficient data
72 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
73 Cévennes National Park 🇫🇷 France
Insufficient data
74 Mercantour National Park 🇫🇷 France
Insufficient data
75 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
76 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
77 Henri Pittier National Park 🇻🇪 Venezuela
Insufficient data
78 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
79 Sierra Nevada National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
Insufficient data
80 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
81 Cajas National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
Insufficient data
82 Chingaza National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
83 Sierra de la Macarena National Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
84 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
85 Nikko National Park 🇯🇵 Japan
Insufficient data
86 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
87 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
Insufficient data
88 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
89 Machalilla National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
Insufficient data
90 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
Insufficient data
91 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
Insufficient data
92 Manas National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
93 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Merlin in El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Merlin sighting in El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve, based on 44 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Merlin in El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve?

November has the highest sighting rate for Merlin in El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve in our monthly data.

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