Linnet
Linaria cannabina
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The Linnet is a classic dune scrub bird, breeding in Gorse and dense low scrub at Ainsdale and Formby. In summer the male is beautiful — crimson red breast and forehead, chestnut back. In winter they form large flocks with other finches and feed on weed seeds on farmland behind the sea wall. Their musical, twittering song was prized by cagebird keepers in the 19th century — the word 'linnet' is thought to derive from 'linen' (flaxseed was a preferred food). Red-listed due to agricultural change reducing seed availability.
At a Glance
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Fringillidae |
| Habitat | Dune scrub · Gorse heath · Farmland · Rough grassland |
| Diet | Seeds — particularly of weeds and dune plants; some invertebrates in summer |
| UK population | Around 430,000 pairs; red-listed due to long-term decline |
| Sefton Coast | Breeds in dune scrub; present year-round; winter flocks on farmland and rough coastal grassland |
| Conservation | UK Red List |
Where to See It
Dune scrub with Gorse at Ainsdale and Formby. Farmland behind the sea wall. Forms large flocks in winter.
Identification
Small finch. Male: chestnut back, red breast and forehead (summer), grey head. Female: streaked brown. White in wings and tail visible in flight. Twittering, musical call and song.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Listen for Linnet song in Gorse scrub at Ainsdale in May — a rich, musical twittering. In winter, check farmland flocks for the white wing-flashes in flight.
Conservation Status
UK Red List
This species is on the UK Red List for Birds (BoCC5), indicating serious concern about its population decline or unfavourable conservation status. Monitoring this species on the Sefton Coast contributes to national population tracking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Linnet declined so much?
Linnet populations have fallen by around 60% since the 1970s due to the loss of food in the agricultural landscape — herbicides kill the weed seeds they depend on, autumn cultivation eliminates winter stubble, and improved crop varieties reduce spillage. The dune scrub of the Sefton Coast provides breeding habitat that is increasingly rare in the farmed landscape.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.