Merlins are small falcons of upland moorland and coastal dunes whose populations have declined significantly. Understanding their welfare needs helps direct conservation effort in upland landscapes.
Merlin welfare is affected by the quality of upland heather habitat and the availability of meadow pipit prey. Managed grouse moors with appropriate heather rotation can provide suitable habitat, but illegal persecution on some moorlands has historically killed merlins. Winter welfare depends on small passerine prey availability in lowland areas -- hard winters that reduce prey access can cause starvation in these small, energy-limited birds. Habitat management that creates structurally diverse heather moorland and maintains meadow pipit populations directly supports merlin welfare.