Twite

Linaria flavirostris

Key facts

Alternative name: Lintie (Shetland)
Length: 14cm | Wingspan: 22 – 24cm | Weight: 13 – 18g
When in the UK: Year-round
UK Conservation Status: Red
Species on the Edge areas: Shetland

Species information

How to identify

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. Length: 14cm. Wingspan: 22-24cm

Habitat and feeding

Habitat

They nest on moorland, but in Northern Ireland and Scotland will also use coastal sites, where they favour crofts. They need cover in which to build their nest, as well as plenty of wildflowers to provide the seeds they eat and feed to their young. Twite often spend the winter on coastal saltmarshes, where they form flocks and sometimes join groups of linnets.

Feeding

Summer: Feed almost exclusively on the small seeds of wild plants, especially of native grasses

Winter: ‘Weed seeds’, especially charlock, are their main diet, in tattie and fodder rape crops

Distribution

In summer they are found in small numbers in the uplands of England and Wales, and coastal Northern Ireland. They are more widespread in Scotland, particularly on coastal crofts in the north and west. In winter, they are found on coastal marshes, with flocks often visiting the east coast of England. In winter, twite numbers are boosted by migrants from continental Europe.

Twite UK distribution map (c) RSPB https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/twite

Conservation status

UK Conservation Status: Red

Threats

In Shetland, twites are threatened by loss of seed-rich feeding habitats through changes in farming practices. Their breeding areas are threatened by intensification of grassland management (re-seeding, overgrazing) in some areas and abandonment in others. Their wintering areas are threatened by loss of extensive arable cropping and inappropriate cutting regimes of flower-rich grasslands (roadside verges).

What Species on the Edge is doing

Working with landowners to establish ‘Twite crops’
Carrying out surveys to better understand twite distribution on Shetland
Twite colour-ringing

Our work for twite

A man stands in a field of tall, bright yellow flowers — Feeding Shetland’s Linties

Read about our work with crofters in Shetland growing crops to benefit pollinators in summer and Twite in winter.

A twite held in a hand. The twite has several rings on its legs — Monitoring Shetland’s Linties

Read about our Twite colour-ringing project and how you can help by recording your Twite sightings

Watch

Crop management for linties and pollinators – Species on the Edge Winter Talk Series

In January 2025, we kicked off our Winter Talk Series with a fascinating discussion on a new and exciting Species on the Edge project in Shetland: bumblebird crops. In this talk, we are joined by Matt Willmott from RSPB who tells us about the project, and crofters Donna Smith and Laura Sinclair who share their experiences of growing bumblebird crops on their crofts.

Watch the full video on YouTube. You can find the transcript of the talk here: Crop management for linties and pollinators | Species on the Edge Winter Talk Series

If you are interested in finding out more about the project and might even want to grow a bumblebird crop yourself, can get in touch with Species on the Edge Shetland Officer, Harry: harry.britton@rspb.org.uk