Listen to the Merlin
Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.
About the Merlin
The Merlin is a bird in the family Falconidae (order Falconiformes). Its conservation status on the IUCN Red List is “least concern”. Adults have a wingspan of about 60 cm and weigh around 212 g.
What does the Merlin sound like?
Bird vocalisations are usually divided into songs – longer, often complex phrases used to defend territory and attract mates, sung mostly by males in the breeding season – and calls: short, simple sounds for contact, alarm, begging or flight.
The recordings here are labelled as call. Listen for differences in rhythm, pitch and repetition – the spectrum display makes it easy to see whether a sound is a pure whistle (a thin line), a harsh call (a broad band) or a trill (rapid repeated marks).
From Wikipedia
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.
Related birds in the genus Falco
More from the family Falconidae
Frequently asked questions
What does a Merlin sound like?
You can hear 2 recordings of the Merlin on this page, including its call. Bird vocalisations are usually divided into songs – longer, often complex phrases used to defend territory and attract mates, sung mostly by males in the breeding season – and calls: short, simple sounds for contact, alarm, begging or flight.
Is the Merlin endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the Merlin as “least concern”.
What family does the Merlin belong to?
The Merlin (Falco columbarius) belongs to the family Falconidae in the order Falconiformes.
Sources & credits
- Call · Bear Head Lake State Park, St. Louis, Minnesota, United… by Jonathon Jongsma – CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Call · Bear Head Lake State Park, St. Louis, Minnesota, United… by Jonathon Jongsma – CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Wikidata Q131918 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Merlin (bird) – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo by Just a Prairie Boy from Calgary, AB, Canada – CC BY 2.0