Page 385 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

FINCHES
Order Passeriformes Family Fringillidae Species Carduelis flavirostris
Twite
blackish grey bill
streaks on
tan-brown
narrow pale bar back
and long whitish
streaks on wings unmarked
yellow bill
tawny-buff face
and throat
MALE
dark (SUMMER)
pink
rump
buff underside
with black
streaks
MALE (WINTER)
IN FLIGHT
lacks pink
on rump

MALE
(SUMMER)
FEMALE
nusual in that it feeds its young on seeds,
U the Twite needs plentiful flowers and herbs
going to seed all year round.The loss of many
flowery meadows has caused widespread declines
and contractions in its range.Twites resemble Linnets FLIGHT: bounding, fast, energetic with deep
but share characteristics with the Redpoll.They are, undulations; dives rapidly into cover.
however, ground feeders, not treetop feeders like
Redpolls. Like other smaller finches, they move in
tight, coordinated flocks, rising from the ground, and
circling and dropping again as one.
VOICE Flight call little harder than Linnet’s, main call
nasal, twanging, rising twa-eeet; song quick with
buzzing notes and trills intermixed.
NESTING Deep cup of twigs, grass, and moss, lined
with hair, in bush or bank; 4–6 eggs; 1 or 2 broods;
May–June. ATTRACTED TO WATER
FEEDING Eats seeds; unlike most finches, also feeds Twites use shallow pools for drinking and bathing, and are often easier
young on seeds. to see then than when they are feeding in tall weeds.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds in N Great Britain and
REDPOLL 32; Scandinavia, in weedy fields, at
see p.384 plainer back
edges of moorland, and around
pale
black chin chin upland farms. Winters around
North Sea and Baltic coasts,
mostly on salt marshes along
coasts but declining. Scarce inland.
LINNET 32; Seen in the UK
see p.382 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 12.5–14cm (5–5 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 21–25cm (8 1 ⁄2 –10in) Weight 15–20g ( 9 ⁄16 – 11 ⁄16oz)
Social Flocks Lifespan 2–3 years Status Secure
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