Merlin Falco columbarius Linnaeus, 1758    Synonyms: MERL, Pigeon Hawk.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Aves   >   Order Falconiformes   >   Family Falconidae   >   Genus Falco   

Status:

An uncommon migrant and wintering species in Maryland. Merlin is another species with a changing breeding status in Maryland. Evidence of breeding in Garrett Co. continues to increase and a pair has already been observed mating near a presumed nest site this year (spring 2019). Check tall conifers in western Maryland.

Where to find:

Perhaps most reliable on Assateague Island (fall/winter).

There are 434 records in the project database.

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A Merlin in Howard Co., Maryland (3/25/2017). Photo by Anthony VanSchoor. (MBP list)

A Merlin in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/19/2014). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A Merlin in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/19/2014). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A Merlin on the beach at Assateague Island, Worcester Co., Maryland (11/19/2014). Photo by Mike Burchett. (MBP list)

A Merlin in Worcester Co., Maryland (2/16/2014). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A Merlin in Worcester Co., Maryland (2/6/2011). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

A Merlin in Baltimore Co., Maryland (10/6/2017). Photo by Anthony VanSchoor. (MBP list)

Merlin in Harford Co., Maryland (10/3/2016). Photo by Matthew Addicks. (MBP list)

A Merlin in Sussex Co., Delaware (11/10/2012). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A Merlin in Baltimore Co., Maryland (11/16/2019). Photo by Emily Stanley. (MBP list)

A Merlin with Dark-eyed Junco prey in Harford Co., Maryland (2/17/2015). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A Merlin in Harford Co., Maryland (12/13/2016). Photo by Matthew Addicks. (MBP list)

A Merlin in Harford Co., Maryland (3/17/2018). Photo by Austin Jennings. (MBP list)

A Merlin in Worcester Co., Maryland (10/24/2014). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Merlin in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (11/3/2017). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

A Merlin in Calvert Co., Maryland (4/6/2020). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

A Merlin in Montgomery Co., Maryland (2/6/2021). (c) pablo vidal-ribas, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by pablo_vidal-ribas via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Merlin at Greenbury Point, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/26/2008). Photo by Dan Haas. (MBP list)

Merlin in Worcester Co., Maryland (10/23/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

Merlin in Worcester Co., Maryland (11/2/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

Merlin in Calvert Co., Maryland (12/9/2022). (c) rosalie-rick, all rights reserved. Photo by rosalie-rick via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Merlin in Montgomery Co., Maryland (1/28/2023). (c) Dan Treadwell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by dtread1 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Merlin in Harford Co., Maryland (11/25/2018). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A Merlin in Wicomico Co., Maryland (10/30/2014). Photo by Mike Burchett. (MBP list)

A Merlin in Worcester Co., Maryland (2/16/2014). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

Merlin in Calvert Co., Maryland (12/9/2022). (c) rosalie-rick, all rights reserved. Photo by rosalie-rick via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Merlin in Calvert Co., Maryland (5/7/2017). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

A Merlin in flight over Cape May Co., New Jersey (9/29/2012). Photo by Sam Galick. (MBP list)

Merlin in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/18/2018). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. Photo by Kyle Klotz. (MBP list)

Merlin in Garrett Co., Maryland (9/30/2021). (c) aaron graham, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by aaron_graham via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Merlin in Worcester Co., Maryland (2/16/2014). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Merlin in Cecil Co., Maryland (11/3/2022). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jonathan Irons. (MBP list)

Merlin in Montgomery Co., Maryland (11/15/2020). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Merlin in Montgomery Co., Maryland (11/24/2022). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Merlin in Howard Co., Maryland (9/10/2023). (c) Tim Frye, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tim Frye via iNaturalist. (MBP list)


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