Linnet or Twite Germany 14 Jan 2014 (1 Viewer)

Andy Hurley

Gotta love nature!

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Jan 15, 2014

• #1

Hi,

I photographed a flock of winter Linnet, about 30 -40 birds, and I am wondering if this could be a Twite, as it doesn't have a grey bill, but yellowish, it has a plain throat and seems darker below, lacking dark throat spot, isn't dark brown above and the stripes are quite skriking. It was seen in Bad Lippspringe in NRW Germany yesterday in strong sunlight. Do they mix with Linnets in winter? The GPS info is with the photo details. Could this be my first Twite?

Many thanks for your help.

 

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K

KGS

Well-known member

• Jan 15, 2014

• #2

It is a Linnet. Twite e.g. has more yellowish face and a somewhat less obvious white primary panel.

 

Andy Hurley

Gotta love nature!

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Jan 15, 2014

• #3

Thanks KGS, the primary panel had me worried. I think it should be more buff coloured than the Linnet white as you point out. The yellowish bill is ok for Linnet then?

 

chris butterworth

aka The Person Named Above

• Jan 15, 2014

• #4

Twite. The colours are difficult to make out due to the strong winter light but the black tipped yellow bill rules out Linnet, which has a grey bill all year round. The size of the bill is more 'Redpoll-like' as well. Linnet have a larger / longer bill.

Chris

 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening

Supporter

• Jan 15, 2014

• #5

I'm only seeing Linnets here. I don't think the streaking on the underparts is distinct enough for Twite and the head and wing patterns don't really convince me of Twite either. I'm not really sure the bill is yellow - the light is very strong and I think is making the bill look paler.

 

Andy Hurley

Gotta love nature!

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Jan 15, 2014

• #6

Thanks guys, I'll look through the other more distant shots and see if they show anything more.

 

Andy Hurley

Gotta love nature!

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Jan 15, 2014

• #7

2 more photos with back view.

Thanks

 

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chris butterworth

aka The Person Named Above

• Jan 15, 2014

• #8

The wing panels do look very white but, the right hand bird in #1 has its 'face' in shadow and ......... the bill is still yellow.

 

Last edited: Jan 15, 2014

Andy Hurley

Gotta love nature!

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Jan 15, 2014

• #9

Thanks Chris.

 

Andy Hurley

Gotta love nature!

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Jan 16, 2014

• #10

Googling Twite shows http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Carduelis_flavirostris.jpg and a photo of a female with very white wing panels

 

S

stonechat1

New member

• Jan 16, 2014

• #11

Linnets, compare the bill size/shape.

 

John Cantelo

Well-known member

• Jan 16, 2014

• #12

These birds still look like Linnets to me. The sole 'pro' Twite feature (all others point towards Linnet) seems to be the bill colour. Field guides do indeed tell us that Linnets have grey/greyish bills, but this doesn't tell the whole story. Checking further the 'BWP' confirms my recollection that Linnet bills aren't a uniform grey - bill - "dark horn-grey to greyish black, often tinged with paler grey, green, olive, flesh-grey, or grey white at base and lower mandible'. The yellowest looking bill here is one seen from below - that is the lower mandible ...... Also the strong side light shining through the bill seems to accentuate this apparent yellow tint. Besides, in some shots the bills do look greyish!

 

Andy Hurley

Gotta love nature!

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Jan 16, 2014

• #13

Thanks Roman and John