Linnet Carduelis cannabina

The linnet, with its forked tail and distinctive twittering flight call, is most likely to be seen near breckland. Particularly in areas such as NWT Weeting Heath NNR

Conservation status in Norfolk

Linnet populations have declined nationally over recent years and although numbers now appear stable in Norfolk it is not now as common as it once was. This may be due to the increase in sowing winter crops rather than spring sown crops which reduces the amount of winter stubble fields and therefore the availability of their food source. Other factors could be the increased use of fertilisers and herbicides. Habitat destruction such as the grubbing up of heathland, the removal of hedgerows or severe hedgerow cutting restricts the available nesting habitat.

The linnet is on the RSPB’s ‘red’ species list of conservation importance and is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Click to see the Biodiversity Action Plan Species for this species

How to help

A UK biodiversity action plan is currently being implemented for Norfolk; this will give advice to farmers encouraging them to provide adequate field margins, rotational set aside and retention of winter stubbles.
If you are lucky enough to have a hedgerow containing native species in your garden, it is best only cut every other year, this is because some species only flower on their second year growth. A bushy hedgerow will provide the Linnet with a suitable nesting habitat. Hedge trimming should not take place within the breeding season (March-September).

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Information on the Linnet

How to recognise

The linnet is a slim finch with a forked tail. Males are brown with grey heads; they have attractive raspberry-red foreheads and breasts, and white-edged black tail feathers. The females are a mottled brown and lack any bright colouring. The females can be confused with twite or redpoll, however the twite is only a scarce winter visitor to coastal Norfolk and the redpoll is nowadays a very scarce Norfolk resident.
They have a distinctive “twittering” flight call. They are seed eaters so their diet consists of grass, cereal grains and wildflower seeds.

Where to see

Linnets are widespread UK residents except in small parts of North West Scotland. In Norfolk they are not uncommon birds in their preferred habitats of heaths and commons, especially near the coast and in breckland where there is a good provision of scrub, gorse or thick hedgerows. In winter they can be found in flocks in fields and coastal marshes where they unobtrusively hunt for small seeds. Sometimes they can be seen in parks and gardens. A good place to see Linnets is the NWT reserve at Weeting Heath.

When to see

Linnets are UK residents they are present all year round so can be seen anywhere where there is patches of scrub.

Did you know?

During the winter months the UK Linnet population is increased by passage migrants and winter visitors.

Finding out more

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
British Trust for Ornithology
UK Biodiversity Action Plan

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