Merlin (bird) this phenomenon is due to the fluctuations of supplementary food stocks discussed above. Merlin (bird) The merlin ("Falco columbarius") is a small species of falcon from the Northern Hemisphere, with numerous subspecies throughout North America and Eurasia. A bird of prey once known colloquially as a pigeon hawk in North America, the merlin breeds in the northern Holarctic; some migrate to subtropical and northern tropical regions in winter. Males typically have wingspans of , with females being slightly larger. They are swift fliers and skilled hunters who specialize in preying on small birds in the size range of sparrows to
Sri Lanka wood pigeon in length. Its upperparts and tail are dark grey, and the head and underparts are lilac, becoming paler on the belly. There is a black-and-white chessboard pattern on the nape. This pigeon can be quite easily seen in the woods of the Horton Plains National Park. In Sri Lanka, this bird is known as "Manila Goya" - මයිලගොයා in Sinhala Language. This wood-pigeon in a 25c Sri Lankan postal stamp. Sri Lanka wood pigeon The Sri Lanka wood pigeon ("Columba torringtoniae") is a pigeon which is an endemic resident breeding bird in the mountains of Sri Lanka. This species nests