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)
UK Biodiversity Action Plan: click here

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 fell rapidly in the UK between the mid 1970s and mid 1980s. Numbers have subsequently changed little overall, although with further decrease in England and some suggestion of recovery in Scotland and 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. Nestling diet incorporates a high proportion of oilseed rape seeds, suggesting that the inclusion of this crop in arable rotations may be important in maintaining Linnet populations (Moorcroft et al. 2006). Following widespread declines across Europe during the 1990s, the European status of this species is no longer considered 'secure' (BirdLife International 2004).

Population changes

Table of population changes for Linnet

Source	Period (yrs)	Years	Plots (n)	Change (%)	Lower limit	Upper limit	Alert	Comment
CBC/BBS England	38	1967-2005	349	-71	-78	-63	>50
	25	1980-2005	465	-44	-57	-32	>25
	10	1995-2005	947	-18	-25	-12
	5	2000-2005	935	-8	-13	-2
CES adults	21	1984-2005	20	-89	-96	-74	>50
	10	1995-2005	19	-48	-82	0		Small sample
	5	2000-2005	14	-9	-55	51		Small sample
CES juveniles	21	1984-2005	14	-95	-99	-88	>50	Small sample
	10	1995-2005	14	-60	-88	-32	>50	Small sample
	5	2000-2005	12	-32	-67	11		Small sample
BBS UK	10	1995-2005	1104	-15	-22	-8
	5	2000-2005	1158	-8	-13	-1
BBS England	10	1995-2005	894	-20	-26	-14
	5	2000-2005	923	-7	-12	-1
BBS Scotland	10	1995-2005	84	1	-23	27
	5	2000-2005	87	-7	-24	10
BBS Wales	10	1995-2005	89	-4	-25	29
	5	2000-2005	104	-17	-34	1

Productivity trends

Table of productivity changes for Linnet

Variable	Period (yrs)	Years	Mean annual sample	Trend	Modelled in first year	Modelled in 2005	Change	Comment
Clutch size	37	1968-2005	109	None
Brood size	37	1968-2005	123	Curvilinear	4.06 chicks	4.09 chicks	0.6%
Daily failure rate (eggs)	37	1968-2005	155	Curvilinear	1.65% nests/day	2.26% nests/day	37%
Daily failure rate (chicks)	37	1968-2005	111	Linear increase	1.5% nests/day	2.27% nests/day	51.3%
Laying date	37	1968-2005	110	None
Juvenile to Adult ratio (CES)	21	1984-2005	23	Smoothed trend	458 Index value	100 Index value	-78% >50
Juvenile to Adult ratio (CES)	10	1995-2005	23	Smoothed trend	113 Index value	100 Index value	-12%
Juvenile to Adult ratio (CES)	5	2000-2005	19	Smoothed trend	203 Index value	100 Index value	-51% >50	Small sample

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., Barimore, C., Coombes, R.H., Downie, I.S., Freeman, S.N., Joys, A.C., Leech, D.I., Raven, M.J., Robinson, R.A. & Thewlis, R.M. (2007) Breeding Birds in the Wider Countryside: their conservation status 2007. BTO Research Report No. 487. BTO, Thetford. (http://www.bto.org/birdtrends) Pages maintained by Susan Waghorn and Iain Downie: Last updated 3 January, 2008