Linnet

Informazioni

The Linnet (Carduelis cannabina, now often Linaria cannabina) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is a common and widespread species, known for its melodious song and its preference for open, scrubby habitats. Linnets are primarily seed-eaters, often found in flocks outside the breeding season.

Dimensioni e longevità

Lunghezza

12.5-14 cm

Apertura alare

21-25 cm

Peso

15-22 g

Longevità

2-5 years (up to 8 years recorded)

Dieta

Granivore (primarily seeds)

Caratteristiche fisiche

Piumaggio

Overall brown streaky plumage. Males in breeding plumage have a distinctive crimson forehead and breast, grey nape, and chestnut back. Females and non-breeding males are duller, lacking the crimson, with a buffy-brown head and streaked underparts. Both sexes have a white patch on the outer primaries and white edges to the tail feathers, visible in flight.

Forma del becco

Conical, relatively small and pointed, adapted for seed eating. Greyish-horn color.

Colore degli occhi

Dark brown.

Colore delle zampe

Dark brown to blackish-brown.

Caratteristiche distintive

White wing-bar (especially prominent in flight), white outer tail feathers, and the male's crimson head and breast in breeding season. The streaky brown plumage is characteristic.

Aspetto giovanile

Juveniles are heavily streaked brown above and below, lacking any red or grey. They have a buffier tone than adult females and a less distinct wing-bar.

Cambiamenti stagionali

Males undergo a significant change from a duller, less colorful non-breeding plumage to a vibrant breeding plumage with crimson forehead and breast. This change is primarily due to feather wear revealing the underlying color, rather than a complete molt.

Dimorfismo sessuale

Pronounced in breeding season: males display crimson on forehead and breast, grey nape. Females lack these colors, being duller brown overall with streaked underparts. In non-breeding plumage, males lose much of their crimson, becoming more similar to females but often retaining some reddish tinge.

Come identificare

1. 1

   Size and Shape

   Small, slender finch with a relatively long tail and a small, conical bill.

2. 2

   Plumage (Male Breeding)

   Look for the striking crimson forehead and breast, grey nape, and chestnut back. Streaky brown flanks.

3. 3

   Plumage (Female/Non-breeding Male)

   Overall streaky brown, lacking crimson. Look for the buffy-brown head and streaked underparts.

4. 4

   Wing and Tail Markings

   Crucial for both sexes: a prominent white patch on the outer primaries (visible in flight) and white edges to the tail feathers.

5. 5

   Flight Pattern

   Undulating, bouncy flight, often in tight flocks.

6. 6

   Call

   Listen for the distinctive dry 'chit-chit-chit' or 'twick-twick-twick' call, especially in flight.

7. 7

   Habitat

   Often found in open, scrubby areas, heathland, and agricultural margins, rather than dense woodland.

Habitat e areale

Biomi

Temperate grasslands, shrublands, agricultural lands, coastal areas.

Areale geografico

Widespread across Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. Breeding range extends from Ireland and Portugal eastwards to western Siberia and south to Morocco and the Middle East. Winters in southern parts of its breeding range and further south into North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

Fascia altitudinale

Sea level up to 2,000 meters, occasionally higher in some mountainous regions.

Ambienti preferiti

Open country with scattered bushes, hedges, heathland, scrubland, young plantations, coastal dunes, commons, and agricultural margins. Avoids dense forests and urban centers, though can be found in large gardens or parks with suitable scrub.

Comportamento

Periodo di attività

Diurnal.

Abitudini alimentari

Primarily ground feeders, foraging for small seeds from a variety of plants, especially thistles, dandelions, dock, and various crucifers. They will also feed on buds and occasionally small invertebrates, particularly when feeding young. Often seen clinging to seed heads.

Comportamento sociale

Highly gregarious outside the breeding season, forming large flocks, sometimes numbering hundreds or even thousands of individuals, often mixing with other finch species. During the breeding season, they are territorial but may nest in loose colonies.

Tipo di volo

Undulating, bouncy flight pattern, typical of many finches. Flocks fly in a rather erratic, swirling manner.

Migrazione

Partially migratory. Northern and eastern populations are largely migratory, moving south and west for the winter. Southern and western populations are often resident or undertake short-distance movements. Migratory movements occur mainly from September to November and March to May.

Territorialità

Males establish and defend small breeding territories, primarily through song and display. Flocks are non-territorial outside the breeding season.

Riproduzione

Stagione riproduttiva

April to August, typically two or three broods per year.

Abitudini di nidificazione

Nests are typically built low down in dense bushes, hedges, or small trees, often less than 2 meters from the ground. The nest is a neat cup made of grass, moss, and roots, lined with wool, hair, and feathers.

Dimensione della covata

3-7 eggs (typically 4-6).

Descrizione dell'uovo

3-7 eggs (usually 4-6), pale bluish-white or greenish-white, speckled and streaked with reddish-brown or purplish-grey, particularly at the broader end. Approximately 18 x 13 mm.

Periodo di incubazione

11-14 days, primarily by the female.

Periodo di involo

10-15 days after hatching. Young are fed by both parents.

Cure parentali

Both parents feed the nestlings and fledglings. The female incubates, while the male brings food to her and later to the young.

Dove trovarlo

Consigli sul campo

1. Look for Flocks. Outside the breeding season, Linnets are highly gregarious. Scan open areas for flocks feeding on the ground or perched in bushes.
2. Listen for Calls. Their distinctive 'chit-chit-chit' call is often the first indication of their presence, especially when they fly up from cover.
3. Check Seed Heads. Linnets are avid seed-eaters. Observe thistles, docks, and other seed-bearing plants for feeding birds.
4. Observe Flight. The undulating flight and white wing/tail flashes are good identification features, particularly when birds are moving between feeding areas.
5. Patience in Breeding Season. During breeding, males will sing from prominent perches in their territory. Locate a suitable scrubby area and listen for their song.

Specie simili

Fatti rapidi

Diet:

Almost exclusively seeds

Sociality:

Highly gregarious outside breeding season

Male Plumage:

Crimson forehead and breast in breeding season

Key ID Feature:

White wing-bar and tail edges

Habitat Preference:

Open, scrubby areas

Curiosità

• The Linnet's scientific name 'cannabina' refers to its fondness for hemp seeds (Cannabis sativa), though it feeds on a wide variety of other seeds.
• Historically, Linnets were popular cage birds due to their melodious song and were often kept by miners.
• The collective noun for a group of Linnets is a 'purl' or a 'parcel'.
• Linnets are known to form mixed-species flocks with other finches, especially during winter, to forage more efficiently and for increased safety from predators.

Classificazione scientifica

Regno

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Classe

Aves

Ordine

Passeriformes

Famiglia

Fringillidae

Genere

Linaria

Specie

Linaria cannabina

Esplora Linnet