Merlin (bird) 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 quail. The merlin has for centuries been well regarded as a falconry bird.
Pigeon River (Minnesota–Ontario) Pigeon River Bridge was built downstream and the "outlaw bridge" was removed. The river's English name is a translation of the 18th century French name "Rivière aux Tourtres" or "Tourtes" derived after the passenger pigeon which was once prolific in this region. The smaller European bird was known to the French as "tourtre", but in New France the North American bird was called "tourte" and was baked into a pie pastry called tourtière in Quebec. In modern French the bird is known as the "tourte voyageuse" or "pigeon migrateur". Pigeon River (Minnesota–Ontario) The Pigeon River forms part of the Canada–United