The Merlin is a small, compact bird of prey that belongs to the falcon family. They have a brownish-gray back and wings, with a buff-colored breast streaked with dark markings. Males have a blue-gray head, while females have a brownish head. Merlins are fast and agile hunters, often seen chasing prey on the wing. They breed in the northern hemisphere and can be found in open habitats such as tundra, taiga, grasslands, and moorlands.