What’s That Sound? Merlins Nest Near You

Merlin, eastern US (photo by Wm.H. Majoros via Wikimedia Commons) 25 June 2026 Have you heard this sound in your neighborhood? It’s a merlin! Listen. video embedded from Carl Barrentine on YouTube Merlins (Falco columbarius) are small, dark-striped, very fast falcons who’ve been making a comeback in Pennsylvania. Their population was wiped out during the DDT era and they didn’t return to PA until this century. In 2006-2009 the 2nd Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas confirmed just 6 nests. The 3rd Breeding Bird Atlas, currently in progress 2024-2029, has confirmed 47 so far (dark purple dots on this map). We think there are more. Merlin nests confirmed (dark purple) for 3rd Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas as of 5 May 2026 Because of their habitat and prey preferences merlins could well be nesting near you. They prefer forests, cities, residential areas, school yards, parks, cemeteries, and golf courses and are often found where house sparrows are plentiful. They don’t build their own…