About Linaria cannabina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Linaria cannabina, commonly called the common linnet, is a slim bird with a long tail. Its upper parts are brown, its throat is off-white, and its bill is grey. In summer, breeding males have a grey nape, a red patch on the head, and a red breast. Females and young common linnets do not have the red markings seen on summer males; they have white underparts, with their breasts streaked with a buff color. The common linnet breeds across Europe, the western Palearctic, and North Africa. Part of the population stays in its range year-round, but many birds from eastern and northern populations migrate further south within the breeding range or move to coastal areas. Common linnets are sometimes seen several hundred miles offshore. The species has been intentionally introduced to the Dominican Republic.
