Appearance:

Relatively characterless plumage. Differs from Linnet in warmer, yellowish base colour, yellow bill (grey in breeding plumage), bolder wing-bars and coarsely streaked back. Male with pinkish rump. Told from Redpoll by white base of primaries (like Linnet), and missing red and black head markings. Slightly longer tail and shorter bill than Linnet.

Sound:

Contact call a short "chep" given in series, similar to Brambling, Redpoll and Linnet. Easiest identified by other distinct call given both in flight and on ground; a peculiar, nasal and twangy "twite", from which the species name originates. Each "twite" gives the impression of the pitch being "out of control", like cartoon-like sound-effects. Song a rapid alternation of trills and nasal "twites", given in an even tempo with phrases of variable length. Lacks Linnet's frequent inclusion of "gig-gig" sounds.

Song:

Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-sound:Terje Kolaas, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Fairly large warbler with long tail, giving the whole bird an elongated look. Tertials, secondaries and coverts with rufous fringes in contrast to greyish brown back. Underparts pale with buff flanks. Outer tail feathers white. Steep forehead and white throat. Males with slate grey head.

Sound:

Variable. Usually recognized by fairly concise phrase, usually with three ascending and descending parts. Often ends with more indistinct mimicry, or subsong. May omit characteristic phrase and sing more cryptic for periods of time, and may be more difficult to identify. Warning call a harsh, drawn "weeet", usually with accented ending, sometimes rising abruptly in pitch.

Alarm call, song:

Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC