A method for generating a list of merge candidates for Intra Block Copy (IBC) prediction is provided. A video codec receives data to be encoded or decoded as a current block of a current picture of a video. A plurality of spatially adjacent neighboring blocks of the current block are coded before the current block. The video codec generates a list of merge candidates including intra picture candidates that are associated with motion information referencing pixels in the current picture. The intra picture candidates comprises candidates that are associated with some but not all of the two or more spatially adjacent neighboring blocks of the current block. The video codec selects a merge candidate from the generated list. The video codec encodes or decodes the current block by using the motion information of the selected merge candidate to generate a prediction of the current block.