Merlin in March
Where merlins are in March, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
March in the Merlin's year
March is a month of transition. Winter visitors begin drifting north, the first spring migrants appear in the South, and resident birds are in full song. Weather swings hard — a warm week can push migration early, and a late blizzard can catch migrants short of food.
For the Merlin specifically, March is a spring month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 62 states and provinces where merlins occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where merlins are in March
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In March, merlins are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in March
Merlins are not nesting in March. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes.
Outside the nesting season, merlins put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in March
- Small birds at feeders and on shorelines
Increasingly a city nester, using old crow nests in conifers; hunts feeder flocks at speed.
Migration brings new faces to feeders. Keep seed fresh and watch for birds passing through that you won't see again until fall.
Watching merlins this month
Merlins are settled and predictable in March, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region merlins are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Merlin month by month
Merlin by state
Frequently asked
Where are merlins in March?
In March, merlins are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do merlins nest in March?
No — merlins typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do merlins eat in March?
Small birds at feeders and on shorelines.
Sources
- Merlin — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Merlin life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Merlin — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
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.