Merlin
Falco columbarius
Synopsis: Not confirmed breeding in recent decades in Oregon, but the frequency of May and June records suggests the possibility that a few individuals do nest in Oregon. Historically, this species bred rarely in Klamath and Harney counties. In recent decades has bred on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington and in southern Idaho.

Habitat Associations:
strong
Northeast Mixed Conifer Forest (347160 acres)
Ponderosa Pine Forest/Woodland (492007 acres)
Ponderosa Pine-W. Juniper Woodland (5477 acres)
W. Juniper Woodland (454898 acres)
Grassland & Fir-Ponderosa Interspersed (4292 acres)
Northeast Modified Grassland (17632 acres)
Edges of Recently Cutover/Burnt Forest (160097 acres)
lesser
Sitka Spruce-W. Hemlock Maritime Forest (25608 acres)
Mountain Hemlock Montane Forest (26545 acres)
True Fir-Hemlock Montane Forest (113355 acres)
Ponderosa Pine-dominant Mixed Conifer Forest (35448 acres)
Lodgepole Pine Forest/Woodland (48032 acres)
Subalpine Fir-Lodgepole Pine Montane Conifer (99486 acres)
Douglas Fir-W. Hemlock-W. Red Cedar Forest (447235 acres)
Douglas Fir-White Fir/Tanoak-Madrone Mixed Forest (44380 acres)
Douglas Fir/White Oak Forest (20784 acres)
Douglas Fir dominant - Mixed Conifer Forest (117937 acres)
Ponderosa Pine/White Oak Forest & Woodland (8483 acres)
Ponderosa-Lodgepole Pine on Pumice (209322 acres)
Red Alder (1079 acres)
Mixed Conifer/Mixed Deciduous Forest (167289 acres)
Siskiyou Mtns Mixed Deciduous Forest (3238 acres)
White Oak Forest (23046 acres)
Manzanita-dominant Shrubland (2100 acres)
Sagebrush Steppe (283009 acres)
Low-Dwarf Sagebrush (4704 acres)
Salt Desert Scrub Shrubland (6139 acres)
Big Sagebrush Shrubland (570988 acres)
Bitterbrush-Big Sagebrush Shrubland (40077 acres)
Subalpine Scattered Trees & Shrubs (21846 acres)
Western Oregon Riverine Woodland (7698 acres)

Relative Detectability: Individuals are easily detected, but are probably secretive around nests. Nests on ground or in abandoned nests of other species, e.g, magpies.

Challenge: Confirm nesting for the first time in modern history of Oregon. In particular, watch closely any pairs seen in coastal forests or near desert wetlands.