Common Linnet Identification
What I look like
The Common Linnet has a gray head...
recognized by its red forehead.
Its chest is also red.
It has a chestnut-brown back.
Its light gray beak is very robust.
It is slightly smaller than a sparrow.
The female is distinguished from the male by her lack of red in the plumage.
My songs, my calls
The song of the Common Linnet combines warbles, flute notes, trills, and high-pitched sounds.
It is very difficult to predict the sequence of its phrases.
Its call in flight is quite typical: "gègègè".
How I behave
Linnets often gather in winter...
to search for seeds in the fields.
They are sometimes found in the company of finches.
Linnets do not depend on winter feeding at all.
They are capable of finding everything they need in nature.
They only visit feeders when necessary, if the feeder is not too far away.
How I reproduce
The breeding season of the Common Linnet extends from April to August.
It produces 2 broods per year of 4 to 6 pale blue eggs, speckled with dark brown.
Its nest is a cup found under bushes, close to the ground or on the ground.
During the breeding season, linnets share large territories that they do not defend.
What I eat
The Common Linnet is primarily a seed-eater.
It particularly enjoys seeds of dandelion, rapeseed, and sorrel.
In summer, it also feeds on insects, small snails, as well as fruits and buds.
Generally, it catches its food on the ground, hopping around.
Where to find me
The linnet is a short to medium-distance migrant.
It is sometimes found in gardens and cemeteries near villages.
It prefers open, low-maintenance landscapes...
because it feeds on seeds and plants often considered weeds.