@rq that “almost” spot was a huge problem for me. For the first time, I was unable to identify the species myself. I suspected Linnet, but both Dr. Google and my books have shown me birds with significantly brighter crimson breast patches. So I have asked a professional biologist friend, who in turn asked a professional ornithologist and the answer was that this is a male Linnet and that the males only have bright colors in the spring and gradually lose them over the summer.
There’s almost a spot of colour on the breast -- I doubt there’s a browner bird out there.
@rq that “almost” spot was a huge problem for me. For the first time, I was unable to identify the species myself. I suspected Linnet, but both Dr. Google and my books have shown me birds with significantly brighter crimson breast patches. So I have asked a professional biologist friend, who in turn asked a professional ornithologist and the answer was that this is a male Linnet and that the males only have bright colors in the spring and gradually lose them over the summer.
But there are browner birds around here :).