When do merlins arrive in California?
The Merlin is a winter visitor in California — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
Merlin timing in California
- Arrives
- Around November
- Leaves
- By February
- Status here
- Winter visitor
- Present roughly
- November–February
In California, merlins are a cold-season bird, arriving around November and heading back north to breed by February.
These windows are set by latitude: California sits in the middle part of this species' range, so timing here tracks the continental average closely. In any given year, weather can move the first arrivals by a week or two either way.
Month by month in this state
Highlighted months are when merlins are expected in California. The edges of the window are the interesting weeks — first arrivals and last departures vary most from year to year.
Getting ready before they arrive
The week before November is the time to act. Have feeders cleaned, filled and out by early November — the first merlins into California are scouting for reliable food, and a station that's ready early gets added to their route.
Through the winter, consistent food matters more than variety — birds map dependable stations into their daily routes and rely on them hardest during cold snaps.
What merlins eat while they're here
- Small birds at feeders and on shorelines
Increasingly a city nester, using old crow nests in conifers; hunts feeder flocks at speed.
Native plants that hold merlins in California
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These California-native plants are known to attract merlins:
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Seed pods and insect-rich spring bloom.
Seed pods and cover for Verdins and quail.
Acorns anchor Acorn Woodpecker granaries and scrub-jay caches.
Acorns and a rich insect community in the Pacific Northwest.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do merlins arrive in California?
merlins typically arrive in California around November. Timing can shift a week or two with the weather in any given year.
When do merlins leave California?
Most merlins have left California by February. They spend the breeding season farther north and return in the fall.
Do merlins stay in California all year?
No — in California the Merlin is a winter visitor, present roughly November–February. Outside that window it is rarely seen in the state.
What should I put out before merlins arrive in California?
Have feeders up and clean by early November — first arrivals scout reliable food sources. Good offerings for this species: sparrows, waxwings and dragonflies.
Sources
- Merlin — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Merlin life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Merlin — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — California
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.