Merlins in Nunavut
When merlins are present in Nunavut, when they nest, which native Nunavut plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a yard.
- Status in Nunavut
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a
When to expect merlins in Nunavut
Merlins are summer residents in Nunavut, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent.
Arctic tundra across the mainland and Arctic Archipelago.
Nesting in Nunavut
Across Nunavut, merlins typically nest from June–July. Plan around that window: May for setup, July for clean-out.
A few weeks of summer thaw when tundra birds nest.
- Merlins don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, chokecherry, white spruce for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Nunavut plants that attract merlins
Of the regional native plants we track for Nunavut, these 6 provide food or cover merlins use:
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.
Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.
Feeding merlins through the Nunavut year
- Top foods: None — it hunts the birds your feeders attract.
- In Nunavut's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are merlins in Nunavut year-round?
No. Merlins are summer breeders in Nunavut and leave for the winter.
When do merlins nest in Nunavut?
Nesting in Nunavut typically runs June–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 2–7 eggs, incubated for 28–32 days.
What native plants attract merlins in Nunavut?
Paper birch, Chokecherry, White spruce, Tamarack, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch are native plants in Nunavut that provide food or cover for merlins.
Merlins in other regions
Other backyard birds in Nunavut
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 — Nunavut
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.