Golden-winged Grosbeak
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Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae

[Photo] Socotra Golden-winged Grosbeak, Rhynchostruthus socotranus socotranus. Photo by J??nos Ol??h. Source: www.birdquest.co.uk/HolidaysbyRegion.cfm?Holiday=791

The Golden-winged Grosbeak is an attractive, chunky, medium-sized, robust-billed finch endemic to the southern Arabian and Somalian regions, specifically Socotra Island, northern Somalia, Dhofar in Oman, and the mountains of north Yemen to Saudi Arabia as far north as Al Hara near Ta'if. It is the only member of the genus Rhynchostruthus.

It can be found in Juniperus procera in Somalia and south-west Saudi Arabia, mixed Euphorbia and Acacia species in Yemen, and it is the fruit of these species that appear to form the bulk of its diet.

The large bill suggests a relationship with the Asian grosbeaks e.g. Mycerobas but its song and calls are reminiscent of European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis, European Greenfinch C. chloris, and Yemen Linnet C. yemenensis. Also it has been observed performing a greenfinch-like slow-winged display flight which suggests its true affinities may lie within the genus Carduelis.

There are three races:

Rhynchostruthus socotranus socotranus - endemic to Socotra.
Rhynchostruthus socotranus percivali - southern Arabia.
Rhynchostruthus socotranus louisae - Somalia. A rather distinct race sometimes treated as a full species, Rhynchostruthus louisae.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden-winged_Grosbeak

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