Linnet Bird Facts (Linaria cannabina)

The Linnet is a small finch with a slender build and forked tail. Males in breeding plumage display a striking crimson forehead and breast, contrasting with their grey-brown upperparts and whitish underparts. The wings feature a distinctive white edge.

Females and non-breeding males lack red colouration and instead show heavily streaked brown plumage on their backs and flanks. Both sexes have grey bills and pinkish-brown legs.

Juvenile birds are similar to adult females but more streaked and with an overall duller appearance.

The Linnet is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

The Linnet is not typically found in Garden habitats.

The Linnet is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

The Linnet is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

The Linnet can be found in Urban habitats.

The Linnet can be found in Farmland habitats.

The Linnet can be found in Grassland habitats.

The Linnet is not typically found in Desert habitats.

The Linnet is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

The Linnet is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

The Linnet is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

The Linnet is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Linnets inhabit open countryside, preferring areas with low vegetation and scattered bushes or trees. They are found across Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, with some populations extending into Central Asia.

In the UK, Linnets are widespread breeding birds found in coastal areas, heathlands, and farmland edges. During winter, some UK birds migrate south, while others arrive from northern Europe to overwinter.

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Linnet. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Gibraltar Kuwait Saudi Arabia

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Bermuda Faroe Islands Mongolia Nepal Sudan United Arab Emirates

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Linnet displays considerable agility with its bouncy, undulating flight pattern and ability to perch on exposed branches and wires. Its small size and forked tail contribute to manoeuvrability, allowing it to navigate through vegetation and perform display flights during breeding season.

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

As a small finch weighing only 15-20 grams, the Linnet's strength is limited. However, its specialised bill allows for efficient seed husking, indicating some localised strength in its beak and neck muscles.

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Linnets show good adaptability, inhabiting various open habitats up to 2,000 metres elevation. Their ability to exploit a wide range of plant species for seeds and adjust their diet seasonally demonstrates flexibility. Their partial migratory behaviour also suggests adaptability to changing conditions.

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Linnets are generally not aggressive birds. Their social nature, often seen in flocks outside breeding season, suggests a relatively peaceful disposition. However, males may display some territorial behaviour during breeding, hence the low-moderate score.

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

While not known for exceptional endurance, Linnets demonstrate moderate stamina. Their ability to undertake partial migrations, forage efficiently on the ground, and maintain active breeding behaviours over an extended season (April to August) indicates a reasonable level of endurance for their size.

Linnets are primarily seed-eaters, favouring small seeds from plants such as dandelions, thistles, and chickweed. They also consume buds and shoots in spring.

Their specialised bill is adapted for efficiently husking seeds, allowing them to exploit a wide range of plant species throughout the year.

Linnets are social birds, often seen in flocks outside the breeding season. They have a bouncy, undulating flight pattern and frequently perch on exposed branches or wires.

During foraging, they hop and shuffle along the ground, efficiently picking seeds from low-growing plants.

The Linnet's song is a pleasant, rapid warbling with trilling notes, often delivered in flight or from a high perch. Their call is a distinctive, bouncing 'twittwitt' or 'tit-it-it'. During the breeding season, males sing more frequently, producing a more elaborate and melodious tune.

Rapid trilling calls can be heard in flight or near the nest site during breeding, which have a distinctive ‘tetter-tett’ sound.

Breeding season for Linnets typically begins in April and can last until August. Males perform display flights and sing to attract mates, often from prominent perches.

Nests are built low in dense bushes or hedgerows, usually by the female. The nest is a neat cup made of grass, moss, and roots, lined with hair and feathers. Females lay 4-6 pale blue eggs with reddish-brown speckles.

Incubation lasts about 12-14 days, carried out solely by the female. Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge after 11-13 days but remain dependent on their parents for another two weeks.

The Linnet typically lives for 2 to 3 years.

Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.

While listed as Least Concern globally, Linnet populations have declined in parts of Europe, including the UK. This decline is largely attributed to changes in farming practices reducing seed availability.

Conservation efforts focus on maintaining diverse habitats and promoting wildlife-friendly farming techniques.

Look for Linnets in open countryside with scattered bushes and hedgerows
Listen for their distinctive twittering calls and melodious song
Observe flocking behaviour in autumn and winter
In the UK, visit coastal areas and farmland edges for better chances of spotting

Main predators include sparrowhawks, kestrels, and domestic cats in urban areas.

The Linnet's scientific name, 'cannabina', refers to its fondness for hemp seeds.
In Victorian Britain, Linnets were popular cage birds due to their melodious song.
Male Linnets can lose their red plumage if their diet lacks certain pigments.

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