Migratory behaviour of a breeding population of common linnets

Helgoland is home to around 15 to 30 breeding pairs of common linnets. Ringing of these birds has revealed that many breeders, and their offspring, return to Helgoland for several years. This allows birds to be equipped with light-level geolocators in order to investigate their migratory behaviour and wintering areas. The first results from this project indicate Helgolands common linnets mostly winter in Spain and the South of France.