Arabian Grosbeak

__NOTOC__Taxobox
name = Arabian Grosbeak
status = NT
status_system = iucn3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Fringillidae
genus = "Rhynchostruthus"
species = "R. percivali"
binomial = "Rhynchostruthus percivali"
binomial_authority = Ogilvie-Grant, 1900
synonyms ="Rhynchostruthus socotranus percivali"

The Arabian Grosbeak or Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak ("Rhynchostruthus percivali") is a finch found in Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen. It is included as a subspecies in "R. socotranus" by some authorities, but in recent times the three golden-winged grosbeak populations are usually considered distinct species [Kirwan & Grieve (2007)] .

Description

The males are grey-brown overall with a black bill. The head is brown, with a dark grey mask and white cheeks, and it has large, bright yellow patches on the wings and tail. The females are similar to the males though somewhat duller, and the juveniles are rather streaky and lack the adults' distinctive head pattern.

Ecology and status

The Arabian Grosbeak is typically found between 1,060 and 2,800 metres ASL in forested wadis and areas of scrub. Its range encompasses Dhofar in Oman, the Mahrah of eastern Yemen, and the mountains of northern Yemen [Martins (1987)] to Saudi Arabia. It ranges as far north as Al Hara near Ta'if, where one or two birds were seen on April 26-27, 1996 [Davidson & Kirwan (1996)] .

In southwestern Saudi Arabia it is resident in relict East African Juniper ("Juniperus procera") forests. In Yemen it has been recorded in spurge ("Euphorbia") scrub and woodland of acacias ("Acacia") and junipers ("Juniperus"), while in the wooded Mahrah it is primarily found in "Anogeissus"/"Commiphora" woodland. The fruits of juniper, acacia and spurge species appear to form the bulk of its diet.

It appears to be present in low densities throughout its range. The population is estimated at around 9000 individuals, but it is becoming rare due to habitat destruction. Therefore, when it was first evaluated as a distinct species for the 2008 IUCN Red List, it was categorized as a Near Threatened species [BLI (2008a,b)] .

Footnotes

References

* (2008a) [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=32376&m=0 Arabian Grosbeak Species Factsheet] . Retrieved 2008-MAY-27.
* (2008b): [http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/species/global_species_programme/whats_new.html [2008 IUCN Redlist status changes] . Retrieved 2008-MAY-23.
* (2000): "Birds of the World: A Checklist" (5th edition). Ibis Publishing Co., Vista, California. ISBN 0-934797-16-1
* (1996): Around the Region. "Sandgrouse" 18(2): 76–80. [http://www.osme.org/sand182/atreg3.html? HTML fulltext]
* (2007): Studies of Socotran birds II. One, two or three species: towards a rational taxonomy for the Golden-winged Grosbeak "Rhynchostruthus socotranus". "Bulletin of the African Bird Club" 14(2): 159-169.
* (1987): The Golden-winged Grosbeak in North Yemen. "Sandgrouse" 9: 106-110.