Merlins are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. There are nine recognized subspecies worldwide, with three in North America: F. c. columbarius, F. c. suckleyi, and F. c. richardsoni.

Falco columbarius columbarius summers in eastern Canada, southward to Michigan and westward to the eastern border of the Great Plains. This subspecies winters in the Gulf States, eastern Mexico, northern Venezuela, Ecuador, and the West Indies.

The summer range of Falco columbarius richardsoni includes the interior of western North America. This subspecies winters in southern California, northern Mexico, and southern Texas.

Falco columbarius suckleyi is found in the northwestern coastal regions from northern California to Sitka, Alaska.

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); palearctic (Native ); oriental (Native ); neotropical (Native )

Other Geographic Terms: holarctic