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Conserv. status: SRank S5B

Number of squares Confirmed Probable Possible Point counts 51 60 409 97 Long-term BBS trends Region Years Trend (conf. interv.) Reliab. Saskatchewan 1970 - 2022 2.12 (0.645 - 3.64) Medium Canada 1970 - 2022 2.68 (1.57 - 3.72) Medium

Atlas Results

Merlin were observed in 520 atlas squares across the province with the exception of the Selwyn Lake Upland in the far northeast. In the southern portions of the province, Merlin were notably associated with the urban forests of cities and towns, this result seen most clearly as darker spots on the Probability of Observation map. Merlin were also associated with the South Saskatchewan river drainage, as well as portions of the Aspen Parkland and Boreal Transition ecoregions. In the boreal and taiga forests observations were more scarce, with highest probability of observation along the Churchill River east of Missinipe and Wollaston Lake west to Pasfield Lake.

Excerpts Adapted from the Birds of Saskatchewan:

Until the 1940s this dashing little falcon lived primarily along the wooded river valleys of the grasslands region. Since the 1970s, Merlins have become well-established, often year-round members of the urban bird community. Highly visible and often vocal, they frequently sit on conspicuous perches next to the open habitat where they hunt. A Holarctic species, breeds across the boreal forest of North America from Alaska to Newfoundland and south to the northern US. Winters from the southern half of the US, Central America and the West Indies to northern South America.

Prior to the arrival of European immigrants beginning in the late 1800s, Richardson's Merlins were largely restricted to the wooded valleys of southern Saskatchewan, where they nested in previously constructed corvid or hawk nests (Houston and Schmidt 1981). Extensive tree planting by homesteading settlers during the early 1900s enabled an increase of Crows and Magpies that in turn provided for the expansion of nest sites not previously available (ibid.).

A fairly common summer resident over most of the agricultural zone where it breeds in aspen groves, coulees, abandoned farmsteads, cemeteries and urban residential areas. Most birds leave for the winter but enough remain to qualify it as an uncommon winter resident (Smith 1996).

Original text by Ian G. Warkentin. Text adapted by Daniel J. Sawatzky

Read more about the Merlin in the Birds of Saskatchewan here.

LeeAnn M. Latremouille

Recommended citation: Latremouille, L. M. 2025. Merlin in Latremouille, L. M., S. L. Van Wilgenburg, C. B. Jardine, D. Lepage, A. R. Couturier, D. Evans, D. Iles, and K. L. Drake (eds.). 2025. The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Saskatchewan, 2017-2021. Birds Canada. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan https://sk.birdatlas.ca/accounts/speciesaccount.jsp?sp=MERL&lang=en [14 Nov 2025]