Hi all, Griscom (1923) mentions an old record of Common Linnet from NYS, under the account for Chaffinch in the "Introduced Species" section of "Birds of the New York City Region" (p. 383): "The European Linnet (Linota cannabina) has been recorded from Scarboro, N.Y., but was in all probability an escape."
Fascinatingly, about five years ago, Dr. Jeremy Kirchman serendipitously discovered a specimen that appears to be the basis of the record described by Griscom, at the NYS Museum. He wrote to me at that time that "the original tag say it was 'shot from a flock of four or five accompanying a large flock of American Goldfinches. Gerald H. Thayer.'" Given that Griscom didn't seem to be aware of any large-scale campaign to introduce this species, I would say that natural vagrancy should at least be considered. Shai Mitra Bay Shore ________________________________ CSI has been ranked one of America's Best Colleges 2014<http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/regional-universities-north/top-public/spp+50/page+2> (North East Public) by US News and World Report. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
