(n.) Any one of several species of fringilline birds of the genera Linota, Acanthis, and allied genera, esp. the common European species (L. cannabina), which, in full summer plumage, is chestnut brown above, with the breast more or less crimson. The feathers of its head are grayish brown, tipped with crimson. Called also gray linnet, red linnet, rose linnet, brown linnet, lintie, lintwhite, gorse thatcher, linnet finch, and greater redpoll. The American redpoll linnet (Acanthis linaria) often has the crown and throat rosy. See Redpoll, and Twite.
Example Sentences:
(1) Nearby, along the old high water mark, is a flock of linnets, which remain surprisingly well-hidden when feeding, but whose wings flash in the sunlight as they take to the air.
(2) Skylarks, yellowhammer, linnets and stone curlews are among the species the RSPB is most worried would suffer from the loss of set-aside.
(3) Stonechats, warblers and linnets chatter from the heathland.
(4) Sweden finished third with 218 points, behind second placed Dutch act the Common Linnets who totted up 238 points.
(5) These include the linnet , Dartford warbler , stonechat , meadow pipit , skylark , goldfinch , bullfinch, hedge sparrow , grey partridge and yellowhammer .