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Falconiformes / Falconidae / Falco

Merlin

Falco columbarius · 灰背隼

China: Level II IUCN: Least Concern Found in China

Introduction

The merlin is a small falcon species. It is distinct from the mythical figure Merlin featured in Arthurian legend.

Culture

The Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, which powered British aircraft such as the Spitfire during the Second World War, was named after the bird species, not the legendary wizard. This naming followed the company's policy of using bird names for its engines.

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0

Taxonomy

Order
Falconiformes
Family
Falconidae
Genus
Falco

Subspecies (9)

  • Falco columbarius aesalon

    breeds northern Eurasia (Faroe Islands to central Siberia); winters to northern Africa

Data Sources

AviList 2025 eBird (merlin) CBR v12.0 (#634) Avibase

Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.

Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.