The RSPB: Twite

Conservation status: Red

The twite is a small, brown finch closely related to the linnet, but with a longer tail and stubbier bill. Its back is tawny, heavily streaked with dark brown, and is white below with dark-brown streaks on its flanks. The rump is pink on males but brown on females. Like the linnet, it feeds on seeds year-round.

Overview

Latin name

Carduelis flavirostris

Family

Finches (Fringillidae)

Where to see them

Breeds on the moorlands of the Scottish Highlands, northern England and N Wales. In winter some remain in N and W Scotland, near the coast, while others, including Continental birds, move to the coast of eastern England where they can be found on saltmarshes and coastal fields.

When to see them

Breeding areas are occupied from April to September. Birds then move out of their upland range, going to more coastal areas, with Pennines breeders going to the east coast of England. They stay on the coast from October until March.

What they eat

Seeds

Population

Europe	UK breeding*	UK wintering*	UK passage*
-	6,000-15,000 pairs	100,000-150,000 birds (incl Ireland)	-

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.