Merlin

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Merlin in Banff National Park?

With luck. About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Merlin sighting in Banff National Park on a given day, based on 227 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 73rd most-seen of the 191 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see a Merlin in Banff National Park?

March and April. In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Merlin in Banff National Park on a given day, against under 5% in May–June, September and November–February, the lowest months.

Q: What time of day is best to see a Merlin?

Between 8 and 11 am. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Merlin sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Q: Is Banff National Park the best place to see a Merlin?

15th of 82. Of the 82 parks where we can rate Merlin sightings, Banff National Park ranks 15th at about 10%. The best odds are in Riding Mountain National Park (Canada, about 20%), Denali National Park (United States, about 20%) and Katmai National Park (United States, about 10%).

Q: Where does the Merlin sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the Merlin is recorded against all the birds logged in Banff National Park (227 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

Falco columbarius

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderFalconiformes (Falcons and Caracaras)
FamilyFalconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
GenusFalco (Typical Falcons)
SpeciesFalco columbarius (Merlin)

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

at Banff National Park

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%

227 Verified sightings at Banff National Park From 2019 to 2026

7,604 In all 82 parks

April Best month

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Merlin

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.

The scientific classification of the merlin (Falco columbarius) represents a crucial bridge between early colonial natural history and the birth of modern taxonomy. In the early 18th century, English naturalist Mark Catesby traveled through the American colonies and documented the bird under the colloquial name "pigeon... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Call0:34

United States · 2024

Begging call0:05

Russian Federation · 2023

Alarm call0:38

Sweden · 2022

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Our parks where it lives Our cities where it livesIn captivity: 5 zoos & centres

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Riding Mountain National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~20%
2	Denali National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
3	Katmai National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
4	Isle Royale National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
5	Voyageurs National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
6	Jasper National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
7	Main Ridge Forest Reserve	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	~10%
8	Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park	🇯🇲 Jamaica	~10%
9	Wrangell-St. Elias National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
10	Cabo Pulmo National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
11	Irazú Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
12	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
13	Vatnajokull National Park	🇮🇸 Iceland	~10%
14	Ciénaga de Zapata	🇨🇺 Cuba	~10%
15	Banff National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
16	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
17	Caroni Swamp	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	~10%
18	Gros Morne National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
19	Cape Breton Highlands National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
20	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
21	Los Haitises National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	~10%
22	Acadia National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
23	Padre Island National Seashore	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
24	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
25	El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
26	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
27	Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
28	Great Bear Rainforest	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
29	Pacific Rim National Park Reserve	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
30	Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
31	Kluane National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
32	Wadden Sea National Park	🇩🇪 Germany	<5%
33	Elk Island National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
34	Channel Islands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
35	Bahía de Loreto National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
36	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
37	Guadalupe Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
38	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
39	Shenandoah National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
40	Hortobágy National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	<5%
41	Olympic National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
42	Death Valley National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
43	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
44	Camargue	🇫🇷 France	<5%
45	Doñana National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	<5%
46	Los Quetzales National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
47	Big Cypress National Preserve	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
48	Glacier National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
49	Volcán Barú National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
50	Fertő-Hanság National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	<5%
51	Kiskunság National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	<5%
52	Grand Canyon National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
53	Cairngorms National Park	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	<5%
54	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
55	Redwood National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
56	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
57	Yellowstone National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
58	Zion National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
59	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
60	Biebrza National Park	🇵🇱 Poland	<5%
61	Joshua Tree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
62	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
63	Snowdonia National Park	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	<5%
64	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
65	Monfragüe National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	<5%
66	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
67	Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
68	Big Bend National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
69	Grand Teton National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
70	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
71	Great Smoky Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
72	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
73	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
74	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
75	Los Nevados National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
76	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
77	Poás Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
78	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
79	Pyrénées National Park	🇫🇷 France	<5%
80	Rocky Mountain National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
81	Saguaro National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
82	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%

Cities Where Found

#	City	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Calgary	🇨🇦 Canada	~20%
2	Montreal	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
3	Edmonton	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
4	Tijuana	🇲🇽 México	~10%
5	Anchorage	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
6	Toronto	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
7	Santo Domingo	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	~10%
8	Novosibirsk	🇷🇺 Russia	~10%
9	Salt Lake City	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
10	Miami	🇺🇸 United States	<5%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Carolina Raptor Center	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
2	Cascades Raptor Center	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
3	Chouette à voir!	🇨🇦 Canada	In captivity
4	Museum of Life and Science	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
5	Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society	🇨🇦 Canada	In captivity

Closest Relatives at Banff National Park

Falco atricapillus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Falco mexicanus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Falco sparverius

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Falco peregrinus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Turdus migratorius

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Junco hyemalis

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Corvus corax

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Setophaga coronata

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Poecile gambeli

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Spinus pinus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Pica hudsonia

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Sitta canadensis

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Merlin in Banff National Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Merlin sighting in Banff National Park on a given day, based on 227 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 73rd most-seen of the 191 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Merlin in Banff National Park?

March and April

In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Merlin in Banff National Park on a given day, against under 5% in May–June, September and November–February, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Merlin?

Between 8 and 11 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Merlin sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Banff National Park the best place to see a Merlin?

15th of 82

Of the 82 parks where we can rate Merlin sightings, Banff National Park ranks 15th at about 10%. The best odds are in Riding Mountain National Park (Canada, about 20%), Denali National Park (United States, about 20%) and Katmai National Park (United States, about 10%).

Where does the Merlin sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Merlin is recorded against all the birds logged in Banff National Park (227 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Banff National Park

Merlin

About the Merlin

Sounds

Recent sightings of Merlin in Banff National Park

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Cities Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at Banff National Park

Falco atricapillus

Prairie Falcon

American Kestrel

Peregrine Falcon

American Robin

Dark-eyed Junco

Common Raven

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Mountain Chickadee

Pine Siskin

Black-billed Magpie

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Merlin in Banff National Park?

When is the best time to see a Merlin in Banff National Park?

What time of day is best to see a Merlin?

Is Banff National Park the best place to see a Merlin?

Where does the Merlin sighting chance come from?