Home range and habitat utilization of breeding male merlins, Falco columbarius, in southeastern Montana

Dale M. Becker; Carolyn H. Sieg

Treesearch

Home range and habitat utilization of breeding male merlins, Falco columbarius, in southeastern Montana

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Dale M. Becker, Carolyn H. Sieg

Year:

1987

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

Canadian Field-Naturalist. 101(3): 398-403.

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Abstract

Home range size and habitat utilization of three breeding male Richardson’s Merlins (Falco columbarius richardsonii) in southeastern Montana were studied using radio telemetry. Home ranges of these birds encompassed 13,23, and 28 km². Each bird traveled up to 9 km from its nest. Each home range encompassed five habitats; sagebrush/grassland, riparian, and Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) communities were used significantly (p < 0.05) more, and grasslands and agricultural fields less (p < 0.05), than expected, based on the proportions in the combined home ranges. Four sites regularly used by hunting male Merlins indicated preferences for patchy shrub/grasslands as hunting habitats.

Keywords

Merlin, Falco columbarius, home range, habitat, Montana

Citation

Becker, Dale M.; Sieg, Carolyn Hull. 1987. Home range and habitat utilization of breeding male merlins, Falco columbarius, in southeastern Montana. Canadian Field-Naturalist. 101(3): 398-403.