About the Common Linnet
The common linnet or Eurasian linnet is a small passerine bird of the finch family, Fringillidae. It derives its common name and the scientific name, Linaria, from its fondness for hemp seeds and flax seeds—flax being the English name of the plant from which linen is made.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The common linnet is a slim bird with a long tail. The upper parts are brown, the throat is sullied white and the bill is grey. The summer male has a grey nape, red head-patch and red breast. Females and young birds lack the red and have white underparts, the breast streaked buff.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Common Linnet sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Taiwan, United States, India, Iceland, Kuwait, Faroe Islands.
When to see it
Peak activity in May · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisThe twite is similar in size and shape to a linnet, at 13 to 13.5 cm (5.1 to 5.3 in) long.
Yemen LinnetLinaria yemenensisThe Yemen linnet is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae.
Warsangli LinnetLinaria johannisThe Warsangli linnet is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae.
Side by side: Common Linnet vs Twite
Learn the Common Linnet for real
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