The twite is a small brown passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is a partially migratory species that is found in a strongly disjunct distribution in northern Europe, and in Asian mountains from eastern Turkey to Nepal, western China and Mongolia. It mainly feeds on small seeds but occasionally also feeds on insects.
Region
Northern Europe and Central Asia
Typical Environment
Breeds discontinuously across upland moorland and montane scrub from northern Scotland and Scandinavia through the Caucasus and mountains from eastern Turkey to Nepal, western China, and Mongolia. In winter it descends or moves south and west to coastal saltmarshes, estuaries, and lowland farmlands, especially around the North Sea and Irish Sea. It favors open, treeless habitats with heather, dwarf willows, or weedy patches rich in seed plants. Local populations may be resident where conditions remain mild, while more northerly breeders are migratory.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 3000 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The twite is a small, streaky finch with a distinctive yellow bill and a buzzy call that gives the species its English name. Breeding males often show a subtle pink rump, helping separate them from linnets and redpolls. It nests low in heather or gorse on upland moors and can form sizable winter flocks on coastal saltmarsh and weedy farmland.
The pale subspecies L. f. montanella in northern Pakistan
Twite eggs
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with undulating flight
Social Behavior
Usually found in small to large flocks outside the breeding season, often mixing with other finches at rich food sources. Pairs nest low in heather, gorse, or montane shrubs, building neat cup nests. Clutch sizes are typically 4–6, and both parents feed the young.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
The call is a nasal, buzzing twiit or twite that carries over moorland. The song is a simple, twittering warble interspersed with buzzy notes, delivered from low perches or in display flight.
