Twite - Definition and Overview

The Twite, Carduelis flavirostris, is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.

This bird breeds in northern Europe and across central Asia. It is partially resident, but many birds migrate further south, or move to the coasts.

Treeless moorland is favoured for breeding. It builds its nest in a bush, laying 4-7 eggs.

This species can form large flocks outside the breeding season, sometimes mixed with other finches on coasts and salt marshes. The food is seeds.

It is similar in size and shape to a Linnet, but lacks the red head patch and breast shown by that species and the redpolls. It is brown streaked with black above, with a pink rump. The underparts buff to whitish, streaked with brown. The conical bill is yellow in winter and grey in summer.

The call is a distinctive "twit", and the song contains fast trills and twitters.