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Wild Bird Guide : Linnet

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Linnet - Carduelis cannabina

A small slim finch adundant in open areas, especially marsh and shingle areas in winter. Widespread and numerous resident in the UK.

 

Identification

Male
Males are attractively marked with a crimson forehead & breast in spring & summer. They have a grey head, brown back & buff belly & throat. Their tails are are black & white, medium in length and notched.
Female
The female lacks the crimson forehead & breast instead has but has a buff streaked colouring.
Size
13 - 14 cms
Bill
grey; short & thin
Legs
grey; medium in length
Habitat
heaths, estuaries, woods, hedges and gardens
Behaviour
flits, perches openly, hops, takes off & lands from vegetation or the ground.
Flocking
1 - 500
Flight
undulating
Voice
high pitched twittering in flight

 

Breeding

Nest
in bushes
Eggs
4 - 6 pale blue, speckled reddish 
Incubation period
10 - 14 days
Fledgeling
14 - 17 days
Broods
2 - 3; April - June 
Food
seeds
UK breeding pairs
800,000 pairs

 

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