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Difference between revisions of "Common Linnet" - BirdForum Opus

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m (Eurasian Linnet moved to Common Linnet: consensus)
(ID & Taxonomy expanded. References)
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[[Image:Eurasian_Linnet.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Andy+Bright|Andy Bright}} <br>Photographed:  [[Suffolk]], [[U.K.]]]]
 
 
'''Alternative name: Eurasian Linnet'''
 
'''Alternative name: Eurasian Linnet'''
 +
[[Image:Eurasian_Linnet.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Andy+Bright|Andy Bright}} <br />[[Suffolk]], [[U.K.]]]]
 
;[[:Category:Carduelis|Carduelis]] cannabina
 
;[[:Category:Carduelis|Carduelis]] cannabina
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−
 
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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It is a slim bird with a long tail. The upperparts 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.
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It is a slim bird with a long tail
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*Brown mantle and back
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Females and young birds lack the red and have white underparts with the breast streaked buff. The linnet's pleasant song contains fast trills and twitters.<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>
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*Off-white throat
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*Grey bill
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[[Image:Linnet_7964.jpg‎|thumb|350px|left|Female<br/>Photo by {{user|jtwood|jtwood}}<br>Photographed: East Lothian, [[Scotland]]]]
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*Silvery  edge to primaries<br />
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'''Breeding Male'''
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*Red breast
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*Red forehead
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*Grey nape<br />
 +
'''Females''' and young birds lack the red, streaked breasts and white underparts.
 +
[[Image:Linnet_7964.jpg‎|thumb|350px|right|Female<br/>Photo by {{user|jtwood|jtwood}}<br />East Lothian, [[Scotland]]]]
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
 
Widespread and generally common over much of the Region. Breeds throughout the [[British Isles]] and from western [[France]] and [[Iberia]] east to the Urals reaching north to southern [[Norway]], southern and eastern [[Sweden]] and central and southern [[Finland]]. In the south occurs on [[Madeira]] and the [[Canary Islands]], North-West [[Africa]] and most larger Mediterranean islands, [[Greece]], [[Turkey]] and the [[Caucasus]] and the [[Middle East]].  
 
Widespread and generally common over much of the Region. Breeds throughout the [[British Isles]] and from western [[France]] and [[Iberia]] east to the Urals reaching north to southern [[Norway]], southern and eastern [[Sweden]] and central and southern [[Finland]]. In the south occurs on [[Madeira]] and the [[Canary Islands]], North-West [[Africa]] and most larger Mediterranean islands, [[Greece]], [[Turkey]] and the [[Caucasus]] and the [[Middle East]].  
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Vagrants recorded north to Iceland and Lapland and south-east to Kuwait.  
 
Vagrants recorded north to Iceland and Lapland and south-east to Kuwait.  
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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''Subspecies:'' Nominate race occurs in [[Europe]] and North-West Africa with Turkestan Linnet ''C.c.bella'' from central [[Turkey]] to the [[Caucasus]] and south to [[Israel]], paler above with very pale rump and pale grey crown and nape in male. The Atlantic Is have three races but they differ little from nominate. Eastern Canarian ''harterti'' from [[Lanzarote]], [[Fuerteventura]], Graciosa and Allegranza is paler above and whiter on flanks, ''meadewaldoi'' from [[Palma]], [[Hierro]], [[Gomera]], [[Tenerife]] and [[Gran Canaria]] and ''nana'' from [[Madeira]] are very similar.
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====Subspecies====
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There are 7 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
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*''C. c. autochthona'':
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:*[[Scotland]]
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*''C. c. nana'':
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:*[[Madeira]]
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*''C. c. meadewaldoi'':
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:*[[Tenerife]] (western [[Canary Islands]])
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*''C. c. harterti'': paler above and whiter on flanks
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:*[[Lanzarote]] (eastern Canary Islands)
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*''C. c. mediterranea'':
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:*[[Iberian Peninsula]] and North [[Africa]] to [[Asia Minor]]
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*''C. c. cannabina'':
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:*[[Europe]] to western [[Siberia]], Crimean Peninsula and North Africa
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*''C. c. bella'':  paler above with very pale rump and pale grey crown and nape in male.
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:*Asia Minor to Caucasus, [[Afghanistan]], south-western [[China]]; winters to [[India]]
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 +
''C.c. Nana'' is not recognised by all authorities<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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Open habitats with low shrubs and scattered trees, often on moorland and heathland, along woodland edges, hedgerows and orchards, sometimes in large gardens. Eastern race bella on rocky and scrub-covered mountain slopes. In winter forms large flocks often with other finches and feeds on stubble fields and other cultivated areas, along shorelines and on waste ground.
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Open habitats with low shrubs and scattered trees, often on moorland and heathland, along woodland edges, hedgerows and orchards, sometimes in large gardens. Eastern race, ''bella'' on rocky and scrub-covered mountain slopes.
 +
 
 +
In winter forms large flocks often with other finches and feeds on stubble fields and other cultivated areas, along shorelines and on waste ground.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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This species can form large flocks outside the breeding season, sometimes mixed with other finches, such as Twite, on coasts and salt marshes. Its food mainly consists of seeds. The linnet derives its scientific name from its fondness for hemp and its English name from its liking for seeds of flax, from which linen is made.<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>
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During the winter can form large flocks mixed with other finches and [[Twite]].
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====Diet====
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Its food mainly consists of seeds.  
 
====Vocalisation====
 
====Vocalisation====
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'''Song''': a musical twitter.
 
<flashmp3>Carduelis cannabina (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
 
<flashmp3>Carduelis cannabina (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
 
''[[Media:Carduelis cannabina (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 
''[[Media:Carduelis cannabina (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
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==References==
 
==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thDec10}}#Avibase
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#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition ISBN 0 00 219900 9
 
#Wikipedia
 
#Wikipedia
 +
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
{{GSearch|Carduelis+cannabina}}  
 
{{GSearch|Carduelis+cannabina}}  
 
<br />
 
<br />
 
{{Video|Eurasian_Linnet}}
 
{{Video|Eurasian_Linnet}}
 +
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Carduelis]][[Category:Bird Songs]][[Category:Videos]]
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Carduelis]][[Category:Bird Songs]][[Category:Videos]]

Revision as of 00:41, 9 March 2011

Alternative name: Eurasian Linnet

Photo by Andy Bright
Suffolk, U.K.
Carduelis cannabina

Identification

It is a slim bird with a long tail

  • Brown mantle and back
  • Off-white throat
  • Grey bill
  • Silvery edge to primaries

Breeding Male

  • Red breast
  • Red forehead
  • Grey nape

Females and young birds lack the red, streaked breasts and white underparts.

Female
Photo by jtwood
East Lothian, Scotland

Distribution

Widespread and generally common over much of the Region. Breeds throughout the British Isles and from western France and Iberia east to the Urals reaching north to southern Norway, southern and eastern Sweden and central and southern Finland. In the south occurs on Madeira and the Canary Islands, North-West Africa and most larger Mediterranean islands, Greece, Turkey and the Caucasus and the Middle East.

Northern and eastern birds are migratory, leaving breeding areas in September-October to winter chiefly within range of southern breeders and along coast of North Africa, returning in late March-April, those elsewhere partial migrants or resident.

Vagrants recorded north to Iceland and Lapland and south-east to Kuwait.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

There are 7 subspecies[1]:

  • C. c. autochthona:
  • C. c. nana:
  • C. c. meadewaldoi:
  • C. c. harterti: paler above and whiter on flanks
  • C. c. mediterranea:
  • C. c. cannabina:
  • C. c. bella: paler above with very pale rump and pale grey crown and nape in male.

C.c. Nana is not recognised by all authorities[2]

Habitat

Open habitats with low shrubs and scattered trees, often on moorland and heathland, along woodland edges, hedgerows and orchards, sometimes in large gardens. Eastern race, bella on rocky and scrub-covered mountain slopes.

In winter forms large flocks often with other finches and feeds on stubble fields and other cultivated areas, along shorelines and on waste ground.

Behaviour

During the winter can form large flocks mixed with other finches and Twite.

Diet

Its food mainly consists of seeds.

Vocalisation

Song: a musical twitter. <flashmp3>Carduelis cannabina (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
  2. Avibase
  3. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition ISBN 0 00 219900 9
  4. Wikipedia

Recommended Citation

External Links


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