Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Linnet
Scientific Name:
Carduelis cannabina
Also Known As:
Common Linnet
Length:
14cm
Wingspan (mm):
24cm
Weight:
19g Description
Linnets are frequntly confused with Redpolls and Twites, but both these species are smaller than the Linnet. The male has brown upperparts, a grey head and a crimson forehead and breast in summer. The female is duller than the male without any crimson. Both sexes have a chestnut mantle and whitish underparts with brown streaks. The bill is dark brown and the legs flesh coloured.
Diet
Linnets feed mainly on seeds such as Dandelion and Oil Rape seed but also on some insects, especially in Summer. In winter they will flock with other seed eating birds and feed on stubble fields, salt marshes and wastelands.