Reproduction Merlin (bird)

falco columbarius egg



nestlings

breeding occurs typically in may/june. though pairs monogamous @ least breeding season, extra-pair copulations have been recorded. nest sites have dense vegetative or rocky cover; merlin not build proper nest of own. use abandoned corvid (particularly corvus crow , pica magpie) or hawk nests in conifer or mixed tree stands. in moorland—particularly in uk—the female make shallow scrape in dense heather use nest. others nest in crevices on cliff-faces , on ground, , may use buildings.

three 6 (usually 4 or 5) eggs laid. rusty brown eggs average @ 40 mm × 31.5 mm (1.57 in × 1.24 in). incubation period 28 32 days. incubation performed female 90%; male instead hunts feed family. hatchlings weigh 13 g (0.46 oz). young fledge after 30 days or so, , dependent on parents 4 more weeks. first-year merlins (especially males) serve nest helper adult pair. more half—often or all—eggs of clutch survive hatching, , @ least two-thirds of hatched young fledge. however, noted above, in years little supplementary food 1 young in 3 may survive fledging. merlin becomes sexually mature @ 1 year of age , attempts breed right away. oldest wild bird known of 2009 recorded in 13th winter.