Falco columbarius
Falconiformes - Falconidae - Falcons & caracaras
Distribution: North America, except Pacific coast and Great Plains
Habitat: Varied - from sea level up to tree linein some mountain ranges, forest & tundra to parkland, shrub-steppe, moorland, open prairies
Diet: Small birds, bats and insects, small rodents
Breeding: No nest built; use old stick nests of other species; also tree cavities, cliff ledges; also on ground in scrape made from thick vegetation cover.
Clutch size: 3 - 6 eggs
Incubation: 28 - 32 days
Fledge age: 28 - 32 days
Maturity: 1 year
View The International Centre for Birds of Prey protocol file >
Protocol established ?
Used on 9 individuals
Success rate 100.00%
Rating
| Protocol used for at least 5 individuals with over 75% success | * |
| Used by 2 or more institutions | |
| Points on minimizing imprinting | |
| Birds went on to produce fertile eggs | |
| Birds went on to successfully parent rear |
Warning points
None
Please keep us up-to-date and contact us with your own updates or new protocols for rearing the Merlin.
Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2. New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. 1994