How long do merlins live?
The oldest Merlin on record lived to 12.7 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild merlins live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 12.7 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Age at first breeding
- About 1 year
- Eggs per clutch
- 2–7 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
- Size
- 9.4–11.8 in, 4.9–8.5 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 3 of 3
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Merlin can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Merlins usually start breeding at about 1 year old. Each season a pair lays 2–7 eggs and raises 1 per season, with eggs taking 28–32 days to hatch.
How merlins compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other falcons on this site.
- Peregrine Falcon25 years
- American Kestrel17 years
More about merlins
Frequently asked
How long do merlins live?
The longest-lived Merlin on record reached 12.7 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild merlins live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Merlin when it first breeds?
Usually about 1 year old.
What is the oldest Merlin ever recorded?
12.7 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Merlin raise in a year?
Pairs lay 2–7 eggs and raise 1 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info