| Golden-winged grosbeaks | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Socotra grosbeak,Rhynchostruthus socotranus | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Fringillidae |
| Subfamily: | Carduelinae |
| Genus: | Rhynchostruthus P.L. Sclater &Hartlaub, 1881 |
| Type species | |
| Rhynchostruthus socotranus[1] P.L. Sclater & Hartlaub, 1881 | |
| Species | |
Rhynchostruthus louisae | |
ThegenusRhynchostruthus is a small group offinches in thefamilyFringillinae. Commonly known asgolden-winged grosbeaks, they are attractive, chunky, medium-sized, robust-billedsongbirds restricted to the southernArabian and northernSomalian regions.
These elusive birds are typically found between 1,060 and 2,800 metresASL in forestedwadis and areas of scrub. The fruits ofjunipers,acacias andspurges appear to form the bulk of their diet.
These birds have slightsexual dichromatism. Males are grey-brown overall with a black bill, dark mask, white cheeks, and large, bright yellow patches on the wings and tail. The extent of the dark head-pattern and white cheek-patches varies considerably betweentaxa. The females are similar to the males though somewhat duller, and the juveniles are rather streaky and lack the adults' distinctive head pattern.
The large bill suggests a relationship with the Asiangrosbeaks - e.g.Mycerobas - but its song and calls are reminiscent ofEuropean goldfinchCarduelis carduelis,European greenfinchC. chloris, andYemen linnetC. yemenensis. Also it has been observed performing a greenfinch-like slow-winged display flight which suggests its true affinities may lie within the genusCarduelis. Altogether,Rhynchostruthus seems to belong to a group ofCarduelinae which includes such birds asCarduelis, theoriole finch (Linurgus olivaceus), and thecanaries, many of which have large amounts of brilliant yellow plumage. But the exact placement of the golden-winged grosbeaks is not very well resolved. Molecular genetic studies have shown thatRhynchostruthus andRhodospiza form a distinct clade but are not closely related to any other of the birds commonly referred to as "grosbeaks".[2]
The genus used to contain a single species,Rhynchostruthus socotranus. But more recently this is often split into three:[3][4]
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