Linnet (Carduelis cannabina) is a bird the size of a sparrow. The male in breeding plumage is reliably recognized by the carmine red color of the forehead and chest, into which from the middle of the belly a pale stripe digs deeply. His cheeks, temples and nape are gray, the flanks are light brown, the underside of the tail and the lower part of the belly are white, the back and most of the wings are uniformly brown, the upper side of the tail, the wing tips and the beak are black. In winter plumage the male is strongly similar to the female, as the vivid red color on his chest and head fades. In winter his wings, back, head, chest, flanks and belly are flecked with a pattern of darker spots. His winter dress is nevertheless somewhat warmer brown tones, while the color of the female's plumage tends toward gray tones.
Linnets are sociable birds that outside the breeding season gather in large flocks, but even during breeding they like to stay in smaller groups, which number up to a few dozen individuals. They nest hidden in the tangle of branches in a living hedge or in dense scrub, preferably thorny shrubs. In our country they nest from April to June. At that time they are also most songful and proudly announce their territory with a beautiful, lively melodic song. Since they do not migrate, they can be encountered in Slovenia all year round.
Linnet is herbivorous. It feeds on a variety of seeds, which it cracks with its sturdy beak. It is a bird of open cultural landscapes, where grassy patches are separated by hedgerows, contributing to the mosaic of the landscape with fields and shrubbery. Especially in the colder part of the year it can also be found on other grassy surfaces outside the closed forest, for example on floodplains or fields, and it also ventures into parks and gardens.
