The Merlin uses both coniferous and deciduous trees as nest sites. It does not build a nest, but usually uses an old crow, jay, or hawk nest. Occasionally it will nest atop a magpie nest. The Merlin rarely uses tree cavities, cliff crevices, or the ground. Ground nesting females usually make a scrape. The same nests are rarely used for two consecutive years although the Merlin can be very faithful to general nesting areas, returning to the same park or woodlot for many years.
Clutch sizes range from two to seven eggs, but averages four to five. Each egg is of a short elliptical, oval, or short oval in shape. The shell is smooth but without gloss. Taiga Merlin eggs have a whitish ground color with reddish-brown spots and blotches covering the shell and sometimes forming a ring at the larger end. The egg averages 1.6 inches (40.0 millimeters) in length and 1.5 inches (31.7 millimeters) in width. The Prairie Merlin's eggs are similar to those of the Taiga Merlin but averages 1.6 inches (40.9 millimeters) in length and 1.3 inches (31.8 millimeters) in width.
The Black Merlin often has the darkest eggs which may be totally covered with various shades of brown. They average 1.6 inches (40.6 millimeters) in length and 1.2 inches (31.6 millimeters) in width.
Both sexes incubate but the male spends far less at it than the female (seven to 15 percent in one study). The male hunts for both himself and the incubating female. Incubation lasts 28 to 31 days. On average, male and female chicks require 1.4 ounces (40 grams) and 1.8 ounces (52 grams) of food a day, respectively. The male does most of the hunting for the chicks but the female feeds them. Females may begin hunting when the chicks are about three weeks old. About 29 days after hatching, the young fledge. Both adults feed the young near the nest site for one to four weeks. The young become independent at about five weeks.
The Merlin is single-brooded, but replacement of destroyed early clutches has been recorded. The Merlin vigorously defends its nest. At one nest, a female Merlin struck and instantaneously killed a passing American Crow.
#Which species lays this egg?;question\Q32\Q32.wav
