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Linnet

 

 

Despite the autumn-winter that has lasted more than a week smaller groups of migrating passerines have been spotted. Linnets are quite common nesters in Estonia and we will probably see them leaving until half-way into November; rather few stay here for the winter.

 

Males, females and young birds now look modest and rather similar; birdwatchers notice small differences. In spring the males are more colourful than the females – the forehead is garnished by a bright red patch and the breast plumage is pinkish. They feed on plant seeds.

 

Because of their prettiness linnets have been kept as cage birds – they sing nicely  although quietly and seldom. The bird with the very small beak has been given its Estonian name, kanepilind, "hemp bird“, from its food as cage bird – linnets were fed hemp seed.