Stabilisation of the brown morph in the Common Linnet (Linaria cannabina)

Common Linnet (Linaria cannabina)

It was thanks to an Algerian breeder, Riad, that I was able to discover Adel Maghlaoui’s breeding work on the brown-mutation Common Linnet.

The brown mutation in the Common Linnet is a sex-linked recessive trait and was stabilised over four years, initially by producing young, standard-coloured females and young males carrying the brown allele.

Subsequently, through back-crossing, it is possible to obtain young brown males as well as brown females

The photos clearly show this mutation, which is particularly rare in breeding.

Many thanks again to Riad and Adel for allowing me to publish the photos of this magnificent mutation.