Cornell University ornithologists pioneered the restoration of this species, raising peregrines from captive parents and releasing the young birds in suitable habitat. Recovery efforts restored the peregrine to the East in the 1980s. They now nest on city buildings and bridges in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. They also breed in the Arctic, nesting in slight hollows on the ledges of high cliffs. Voice is a repeated we-hew or a rapid rasping cack cack cack.
Merlins look like miniature peregrines, with males blue-gray above and banded black on the tail.
Females and young birds are dusky brown above, white below. Voice is a rasping chatter. Merlins prey mainly on birds, but also take small mammals and insects. They favor open woods or heavy timber in wild areas. They nest about 35-60 feet up on ledges, in natural cavities or in old nests of other birds.