Falco columbarius -- Linnaeus, 1758ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- FALCONIFORMES -- FALCONIDAECommon names: Merlin; Faucon émerillon

European Red List AssessmentEuropean Red List Status

LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1)

Assessment InformationYear published: 2015Date assessed: 2015-03-31Assessor(s): BirdLife InternationalReviewer(s): Symes, A.Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L.Assessment RationaleEuropean regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

In Europe this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing sufficiently rapidly to approach the thresholds under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in Europe.

Within the EU27 this species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in the EU27.

OccurrenceCountries/Territories of OccurrenceNative:Albania; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Faroe Islands (to DK); Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland, Rep. of; Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Gibraltar (to UK)Vagrant:Greenland (to DK); Liechtenstein; Malta; Svalbard and Jan Mayen (to NO); Canary Is. (to ES)

PopulationThe European population is estimated at 32,000-51,600 pairs, which equates to 64,000-103,000 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 8,200-13,500 pairs, which equates to 16,300-27,100 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

TrendIn Europe the population size trend is unknown. In the EU27 the population size is estimated to be stable. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

Habitats and EcologyThe species is found in a wide variety of habitats, from sea level up to tree line in some mountain ranges, from boreal forest and tundra to parkland with deciduous trees, shrub steppe, moorland, open prairies and steppes. It generally prefers areas with some trees or scrubby vegetation. On migration it inhabits an even broader range of habitats, often along sea coasts. It breeds from March to June and does not build a nest.

Instead, it uses old stick nests of other species especially corvids (Corvus, Pica) in trees but also uses tree cavities, cliff ledges or stick nests on ledges and the ground. Clutches are usually three to six eggs. It feeds principally on small birds, bats and insects, small rodents and shrews. The species is migratory except for those populations in Iceland and the British Isles (White et al. 2015).Habitats & Altitude

Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance OccurrenceArtificial/Terrestrial - Urban Areas suitable non-breedingForest - Boreal suitable breedingForest - Temperate suitable breedingGrassland - Temperate suitable breedingGrassland - Temperate suitable non-breedingGrassland - Tundra suitable breedingMarine Intertidal - Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses) suitable non-breedingShrubland - Boreal suitable breedingShrubland - Temperate suitable breedingShrubland - Temperate suitable non-breedingAltitude Occasional altitudinal limits

ThreatsThe use of chlorinated hydrocarbons between 1960s and 1970s caused some reproductive failure and eggshells in Europe showed 13% thinning. With the banning of these pesticides their impact has fallen as indicated by breeding densities and distributions, migration counts and wintering distributions and numbers. The species also suffers collisions with man-made objects (White et al. 2015). Population declines have also been attributed to loss of suitable habitat through overgrazing, insensitive management, and increased tourism disturbing nest sites. Predation by Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) is also a threat (Mebs and Schmidt 2006).Threats & Impacts

Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and StressesAgriculture & aquaculture

Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesMedium Impact

StressesEcosystem conversion

Energy production & mining

Renewable energy Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact

Stresses

Human intrusions & disturbance

Recreational activities

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesReduced reproductive success

Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesLow Impact

StressesSpecies mortality

Pollution Agricultural & forestry effluents (type unknown/unrecorded)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactPast, Unlikely to Return

Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines

Past Impact

StressesIndirect ecosystem effects; Reduced reproductive success

Transportation & service corridors

Utility & service lines

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesSpecies mortality

ConservationConservation Actions Underway

Bern Convention Appendix II. EU Birds Directive Annex I. CMS Appendix II, CITES Appendix II. The ban of organochlorine pesticides, which were used heavily during the 1960s and 1970s has allowed this species to recover in some areas (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997).

Conservation Action ProposedHabitat should be protected and restored. As the species often suffers more heavily from pesticide poisoning than other raptors, the use of pesticides should be minimised (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997).

BibliographyHagemeijer, W.J.M. and Blair, M.J. 1997. The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds: Their Distribution and Abundance. T & A D Poyser, London.Mebs, T. and Schmidt, D. 2006. Die Greifvögel Europas, Nordafrikas und Vorderasiens. Kosmos Verlag.White, C.M., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2015. Merlin (Falco columbarius). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.). 2015. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/53231 on 16 March 2015).

Map (see overleaf)