A small and slim finch that's widespread and was once very popular as a caged bird because of its tuneful song. Males are marked with crimson foreheads and chests, females are much browner. It has a bouncing flight, usually twittering as it flies and may be seen in large flocks during the winter. Linnet numbers have dropped significantly over the past few decades, with the UK population estimated to have fallen by 57% between 1970 and 2014. The latest Breeding Bird Survey results show a decrease in all countries.