Linnet
| Common linnet | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Male in breeding plumage in England | |
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| Female in Scotland | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Fringillidae |
| Subfamily: | Carduelinae |
| Genus: |
Linaria Bechstein, 1802 |
| Species: | L. cannabina |
| Binomial name | |
|
Linaria cannabina (Linnaeus, 1758) |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Carduelis cannabina |
|
Carduelis cannabina
The common linnet (Linaria cannabina) is a small passerine bird of the finch family, Fringillidae. It 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.
In 1758 Linnaeus included the common linnet in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name, Acanthis cannabina.
The genus name linaria is the Latin for a linen-weaver, from linum, "flax". The species name cannabina comes from the Latin for hemp. The English name has a similar root, being derived from Old French linette, from lin, "flax".
The common linnet was formerly placed in the genus Carduelis but was moved to the genus Linaria based on a phylogenetic analysis of and nuclear DNA sequences.
There are seven recognised subspecies:
The common linnet is a slim bird with a long tail. The upper parts 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. Females and young birds lack the red and have white underparts, the breast streaked buff.
The common linnet breeds in Europe, western Asia and north Africa. It is partially resident, but many eastern and northern birds migrate farther south in the breeding range or move to the coasts. They are sometimes found several hundred miles off-shore.
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Wikipedia