Merlin

Falco columbarius

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderFalconiformes (Falcons and Caracaras)
FamilyFalconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
GenusFalco (Typical Falcons)
SpeciesFalco columbarius (Merlin)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Kenai Fjords National Park

4 Verified sightings at Kenai Fjords National Park From 2019 to 2026

7,438 Verified sightings across all 93 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ 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 Kenai Fjords National Park

Falco peregrinus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Falco atricapillus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

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

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