Merlin in November
Where merlins are in November, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
November in the Merlin's year
November settles into the winter pattern. Migration tapers to the last hardy stragglers, winter flocks form and start roaming, and birds map out the reliable food sources in their territory. Cold snaps push sudden rushes of activity to feeders.
For the Merlin specifically, November is a fall 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 November
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In November, 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 November
Merlins are not nesting in November. 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 November
- Small birds at feeders and on shorelines
Increasingly a city nester, using old crow nests in conifers; hunts feeder flocks at speed.
Winter flocks are forming their routes now — a feeder kept full from November onward becomes a regular stop.
Watching merlins this month
Merlins are settled and predictable in November, 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 November?
In November, merlins are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do merlins nest in November?
No — merlins typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do merlins eat in November?
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.