Falco columbarius
Statewide Status: S:N  IBRC Review Species (Summer)
eBird Species Map

March-November (Migration / Summer)

December-February (Winter)

All Reports (Review Species Only):
Report all breeding. Breeding and summer (June-July) records only are listed below.

1. June 1972 (1) – BBS Cascade, Valley County, Latilong 11
2. 1 June 1973 (nest with 4 eggs) – Carey( Snake River Plain, western  edge) Blaine County, latilong 20 – Erica and Tim Craig – Murrelet, winter 1977 and Status and Distribution of the Merlin in Selected Areas of Idaho submitted to Idaho Fish and Game by Erica and Tim Craig
3. June 1974 (2), 1976(1), 1979(1), 1980(2), 1982(5) – BBS Blacks Creek, Ada County, Latilong 17
4. June 1975 – also active in 1976 (nest with 5 eggs) – Howe, Snake River Plain, North edge Butte  County, Latilong 20 – Erica and Tim Craig –  Murrelet winter 1977, and Status and Distribution of the Merlin in Selected Areas of Idaho submitted to Idaho Fish and Game by Erica and Tim Craig
5. June 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980 (1) – BBS Springfield, Bingham County, Latilong 21
6. June 1977 – (1 pr assumed to nesting in old magpie nest) – Bridge area, Casia County, Latilong 26 – Dr. Clayton White ‘s students (Brigham Young University) made numerous sightings during a Merlin study
7. 16 June 1977 (2) – BBS Baker, Lemhi County, Latilong 10
8. 8 July 1979–  1  – Naples BBS, Boundary County, Latilong 1 – Midge Baker
9. 31 July 1981– (1) – Hells Gate State Park,  Nez Perce County, Latilong 4 –  Merlene Koliner (Canyon Birders monthly survey of park)
10. June 1982 or 1983 – nest with 1 adult/2young – Palisades, Bonneville County, Latilong 22 – Status and Distribution of the Merlin in Selected Areas of Idaho submitted to Idaho Fish and Game by Erica and Tim Craig ( they here unable to authenticate nest record)
11. July 1982 – (nesting in old magpie nest, number of young not known)- North of Bonners Ferry, Boundary County, Latilong 1 –  Craig Groves (doing a Merlin Study for Fish and Game)
12. 25 June and July 1985– (1 imm) – Rathdrum Prairie, Kootenai County, Latilong 2 –  Joe Taggert and Ken Sterner (both falconers)
13. June 1985 – (several sightings  – one a family group with 2 “round-winged young) – near World Center for Birds of Prey, Ada Countuy, Latilong 17 – Bill Burnham, pers. comm. Status and Distribution of the Merlin in Selected Areas of Idaho submitted to Idaho Fish and Game by Erica and Tim Craig
14. 2 June 1987 (1) – Blackwell Hill, Coeur d’Alene, Kootenai County, Latilong 2 – Gertrude Hanson
15. July 1988 – (north of 1982 nest site)- North of Bonners Ferry, Boundary County, Latilong 1 –  Ken English
16. June 1989 – (1) – BBS Kyle Canyon, Butte County, Latilong 21
17. June  1990– (1 imm) – Rathdrum Prairie,  Kootenai County, Latilong 2 –  Ken Sterner (falconer)
18. June 1992 – 1 pr – Avery, Shoshone County, Latilong 3 – Dan Svingen (possibly local breedeing)
19. 19 June 1993– (1 adult male) – Bonners Ferry, Boundary County, Latilong 1 –  Dan Svingen
20. 25 June 1993– (1 ) – St. Maries, BenewahCounty, Latilong 2 –  Dan Svingen
21. June 1998– (1 ) – Bonners Ferry, Boundary County, Latilong 1 –  Rich Del Carlo (2nd week in June)
22. 24 June 2009 – 1 dive bombed an immature Bald Eagle – Priest River, Bonner County, Latilong 1 – Paul Sieracki – Inland-nw-Birders
23. 4 July 2009 – 1 flew in several tight circles and took a swipe at a sparrow – Priest River, Bonner Countym, Latuilong 1- Paul Sieracki – Inland-nw-Birders
24. 12 July 2010 – 1 fledged young begging for food –  Priest River, Bonner County, Latilong 1 – Paul Sieracki – Inland-nw-Birders
25. ♦15 July 2011 – 2 fledgled young begging for food from 1 adult-  Priest River, Bonner County, Latilong 1 – Paul Sieracki – Inland-nw-Birders
    Rare Bird Report #:45-B-11
    Voting: 6-1, 5-2
26. ♦20 June 2020 – 1 pair at nest presumably with eggs – St. Maries, Woodlawn Cemetery, Benewah Couty, Latilong 2 – Carl Lundblad, also Cameron Heusser reported 1 bird two days later – photo, audio
    Rare Bird Report #:34-B-2020
    Voting: 7-0