Linnets, like meadow pipits are not easy to see, and have very similar behaviours. They live mostly in the meadows but you can also see them perched in trees. If you walk through the meadows, you may disturb a flock of linnets and they will suddenly fly up from the grass as if they came from nowhere. Then, if you watch them as they fly, they will go down into the grass again and vanish.

Their voice is a sweet melodic warbling and they often make this noise when flying around - which is a good way to distinguish them from the meadow pipits (which sound like a high 'seep-seep'). The male in summer plumage has bright red markings.