A merlin is a type of bird. This shouldn’t be confused with a marlin - a type of fish - or the fictional wizard Merlin, from the tales of Camelot and King Arthur. The merlin is a falcon species, small and native to North America. They typically prey on smaller birds - sparrows and quails are the largest birds they’re known to hunt.
They are a well-known falconry bird, but are quickly becoming adapted to living with humans. In recent decades, the merlin populations have exploded in areas where the merlins lived before humans began to live. In fact, they live so well with humans that some are beginning to forgo migration for mating season. It is not of concern of going extinct anytime soon due to how well it has adapted to being around humans.
