but a very real and very neat raptor!
In my outdoor outings in our beautiful Fox River watershed, I occasionally come across a common, but not commonly seen, little falcon along the Fox River: the Merlin. The Merlin did not get its name from the magician of King Arthur’s court or the wizard of Harry Potter fame, but from an old French term “esmerilon” which described the species itself and the Germanic word “smeril” which loosely translate to “little or dwarf falcon.” The French and German terms are very descriptive as the Merlin is indeed one of the smaller falcon species that occur in our area. The smallest falcon that lives in our Fox Valley is the American Kestrel. The Merlin is slightly larger and stockier than the Kestrel and has very different coloration.
The American Kestrel and the Merlin are both fierce and effective predators that feed on small birds, rodents, and insects.
Different Forms, Same Bird!
Three different forms of the Merlin live in the United States: a dark form that lives in the Pacific Northwest, a prairie form that has a generally lighter coloration, and the “taiga” (boreal forest) form which is the form that we most often see here. While taiga Merlins have been known to breed in northern Illinois very occasionally, they are much less common breeders in our area than is the American Kestrel. Taiga Merlins more commonly breed in the boreal forests of the far northern United States and Canada. They are most often seen as transients passing through the area on their spring and fall migrations to and from their breeding grounds in the north to their wintering areas in the southern United States or sometimes as far south as Ecuador. The birds occasionally overwinter in our area too.
The Merlin is also sometimes colloquially called a “pigeon hawk” because of its dark appearance and the rapid cadence of their wingbeats when flying which resembles the characteristics of a pigeon. While they have different common names and there are recognized different forms of the bird, all Merlins are Falco columbarius (their scientific name).
When Can I see Merlins in the Fox River Valley?
I have most frequently seen Merlins in our Fox River watershed during the late summer and fall seasons. This year has been no exception. Now is a good opportunity to see a Merlin along the Fox River!
The Merlins that are pictured in this article are either immature males or adult female birds. Both immature males and adult females are primarily brownish birds. The adult females, like many raptor species, are larger than adult males. The adult male birds have a grayish back and wings, while both males and females have light chest feathering with prominent brown streaks running vertically down their chests. They are fast, maneuverable, and powerful in flight. These attributes can make them difficult to observe as you usually only get a few seconds to see them as they quickly move out of visual range. They do perch on high spots like dead trees along waterways where they sit quietly looking for prey.
While the Illinois Department of Natural Resources lists the Merlin as a common bird, native to Illinois, it is a bird that is not commonly seen as I mentioned earlier. It’s always a treat for me to see this bird and I consider it “a red-letter day” when I do. I haven’t seen more than a handful of the birds over the last decade, but I’ve seen two so far this year and have heard quite a few reports of them being seen by others in the watershed. So, as you enjoy our beautiful Fox River, keep your eyes peeled for the interesting and beautiful little falcon called a Merlin. They are a true treasure to enjoy!
Until next time, get outside and enjoy the beautiful fall weather and Keep On Fixin’ the Fox!
