12 inches long with a 25 inch wingspan. The Merlin is a small falcon that is slightly bigger than an American Kestrel. It has pointed wings and horizontal dark stripes on the tail. The male is blue-gray above and the female is brown above. The undersides have vertical rusty brown stripes. The Merlin does not have strong facial markings but may have a faint moustache.
The Merlin is an unusual spring and fall migrant in the Omaha area but is seldom seen in the Forest
There are three subspecies of Merlins of which two, the Prairie race and the Taiga race may be seen in eastern Nebraska.The Merlin is a powerful flier that catches birds in flight with a burst of speed. It also eats large insects and small rodents.
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