LINNET
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http://wildlifesnaps.com/species_common.php?bird_species=Linnet&bird_date=November+19th&bird_id=94
More information on this bird
10/31/07
From: John Donnelly <john.donnelly@manx.net>
To: ONTHEDESERT1@AOL.COM
Subject: More Information on Linnets
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 2:24 AM
More information for you from the bird book. Linnets
A small, lively, sociable finch, the Linnet breeds in small colonies and feeds in flocks all the year round. Flocks move tog there, tightly coordinated, unlike the looser aggregations formed by chaffinches.
They are ground feeders, while Redpolls and Siskins are mostly tree feeders and Goldfinches feed on tall herbs; at times most finches can be found together in mixed flocks.
Linnets prefer waste ground with plentiful seeding plants and bushes, or hedgerows in which to nest.
Voice - Light, twittering, chattering flight call tidit tidititit, nasal tseeoo; song musical, quite rich, varied warbling with chattering intermixed, often chorus from flocks.
Nesting - Neat little nest of stems and roots, lined with hair; 4 - 6 eggs; 2 or 3 broods; April - July
Feeding - Often feeds in groups all year, on seeds, taken from ground; young fed on insects; rarely come in gardens.
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Linnet - this is taken from the photos in the book,
Male Linnet in flight in Summer - Whitish streaks on darks wings, Dark tail with white side streaks.
Linnet Male in Winter - Browner Head, Less Pink-Red on chest, Short Black Legs.
Female - Pale cheek spot, Streaked brown body, Triangular grey bill, Tawny-buff chest, White Belly.
Male in summer - Pale red forehead, deeper in Spring, Pale Grey Head, Plain pale orange-brown back, Pale cheek spot Pink-red chest.
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Sorry to hear you couldn't get the information you wanted and not for the lack of trying by the sounds of it. John bought me an excellent birds book, called the RSPB Complete Birds of Britain and Europe by Rob Hume, it is a big hard back book and I wish I could rip the page out on Linnet and photo copy to for you, but that would ruin the book, so I am going to copy what it says for you, the photos on that page are good too.
Linnet
Family - Fringillidae Species - Carduelis Cannabina
Flight : Light, dancing, jerky undulations, flurries of wingbeats, sudden drop to the ground to feed.
Swirling Flock : Linnets fly in tight, lively, bouncy flocks, with well coordinated movements.
Occurrence -Found locally on Heaths, rough grasslands, commons, farmland, and upland meadows, in most of Europe except N Scandinavia and Iceland. Present only in summer in N and E Europe, but resident elsewhere.
Seen in the uk - all the year round
Length - 12.5-14cm (5- 5 1/2 in) cm =centimetres in = inches
Wingspan - 21-25 cm (8 1/2-10in)
Weight - 15-20g (9/16 -11/16 oz. oz =ounces.
Social - Flocks
Lifespan - 2 - 3 years
Status - Secure
Similar Species:- Twite & Redpoll
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Well that about do it.
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Photo Copyright 2007 John Donelly
Thanks to John Donelly and his web site http://www.iombirding.co.uk/
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You may contact me at birdfotos@aol.com