the world > animals > birds > order Falconiformes (falcons, etc.) > [noun] > family Falconidae > genus Falco (falcon) > falco columbarius (merlin)
merlina1382
esalon1572
merlin hawk1572
stone falcon1656
stone hawk1736
pigeon hawka1782
1736 R. AinsworthThes. Linguæ Latinæ I. (at cited word) The stone hawk, lithofalco.
1863 H. G. AdamsBirds of Prey 46 The Merlin..makes its..nest..in the holes generally amid pieces of rock, hence one of its common names, Stone or Rock Hawk.