BTO - Breeding Birds of the Wider Countryside: Linnet

LINNET
Carduelis cannabina

Linnet © Tommy Holden

• Population
changes

• Productivity
trends

• Additional
information

Conservation listings

Europe: SPEC category 2, declining
UK: red (>50% population decline)

Long-term trend

England: rapid decline

UK population size

556,000 territories in 2000 (1988–91 Atlas estimate updated using CBC/BBS trend: BiE04, APEP06)

Status summary

Linnet abundance declined rapidly in the UK between the mid 1970s and mid 1980s. Numbers have subsequently remained stable, although with some suggestion of recovery in Wales. CES has shown declines continuing strongly in recent years. Nest failure rates rose during the principal period of population decline, and this represents the most likely demographic mechanism driving the observed decreases in abundance (Siriwardena et al. 1999, 2000b). CES and nest record results suggest that low productivity is still a problem for the species, possibly due to reductions in hedgerow quality leaving nests more exposed and therefore at greater risk of predation. Following widespread declines across Europe during the 1990s, the European status of this species is no longer considered 'secure' (BirdLife International 2004).

Population changes

Productivity trends

Additional information


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This report should be cited as: Baillie, S.R., Marchant, J.H., Crick, H.Q.P., Noble, D.G., Balmer, D.E., Coombes, R.H., Downie, I.S., Freeman, S.N., Joys, A.C., Leech, D.I., Raven, M.J., Robinson, R.A. and Thewlis, R.M. (2006) Breeding Birds in the Wider Countryside: their conservation status 2005. BTO Research Report No. 435. BTO, Thetford. (http://www.bto.org/birdtrends) Pages maintained by Susan Waghorn and Iain Downie: Last updated 28 April, 2006