Merlin in October
Where merlins are in October, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
October in the Merlin's year
October brings the year's great turnover. The last long-distance migrants depart, winter visitors arrive from the North, and sparrows flood back into brushy edges and feeder yards. The first hard frosts end the insect season across most of the continent.
For the Merlin specifically, October 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 October
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In October, 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 October
Merlins are not nesting in October. 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 October
- Small birds at feeders and on shorelines
Increasingly a city nester, using old crow nests in conifers; hunts feeder flocks at speed.
This is the month to get winter feeding stations established — birds are scouting the food sources they'll rely on all winter.
Watching merlins this month
Merlins are settled and predictable in October, 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 October?
In October, merlins are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do merlins nest in October?
No — merlins typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do merlins eat in October?
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.