Príncipe seedeater explained

The Príncipe seedeater (Crithagra rufobrunnea) is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found only on the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe off the west coast of Africa.^[1] Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.

The Príncipe seedeater was formerly placed in the genus Serinus but phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences found that the genus was polyphyletic.^[2] The genus was therefore split and a number of species including the Príncipe seedeater were moved to the resurrected genus Crithagra.^{[3] [4]}

Subspecies

Three subspecies are currently recognised:^[5]

• Crithagra rufobrunnea rufobrunnea, the nominate subspecies, endemic to Príncipe. Colour cinnamon-brown.
• Crithagra rufobrunnea thomensis, endemic to São Tomé. More greenish than the other subspecies, with a dull olive-brown colouration and a off-white patch on the throat.
• Crithagra rufobrunnea fradei, endemic to the Jockey's Bonnet islet off the southern coast of Príncipe. Larger than the nominate subspecies, with somewhat more reddish coloration and a darker bill.

Further reading

• Christy, P. & Clarke, W. V. (1998). Guide des oiseaux de São Tomé et Príncipe (Guide to the Birds of São Tomé and Príncipe). Libreville, Ecofac, 106 pages
• Jones, P. J. & Tye, A. (2006). The Birds of São Tomé and Príncipe with Annobón, islands of the Gulf of Guinea. British Ornithologists’ Union, Oxford, 192 pages
• Melo, M. (2007). Bird speciation in the Gulf of Guinea. PhD, School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh.
• Naurois, de, R. (1975). Les Carduelinae des îles de São Tomé et Príncipe (Golfe de Guinée) (Carduelinae in the Islands of São Tomé and Príncipe (Gulf of Guinea)). Ardeola 21 : 903–931.

Notes and References

1. [BirdLife International]
2. Zuccon . Dario . Prŷs-Jones . Robert . Rasmussen . Pamela C. . Ericson . Per G.P. . 2012 . The phylogenetic relationships and generic limits of finches (Fringillidae) . Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . 62 . 2 . 581–596 . 10.1016/j.ympev.2011.10.002 . 22023825.
3. Web site: Gill . Frank . Donsker . David . Finches, euphonias . World Bird List Version 5.2. International Ornithologists' Union. 5 June 2015 .
4. Swainson . William . William Swainson . 1827 . On several forms in ornithology not hitherto defined . Zoological Journal . 3 . 348 .
5. Book: Clement . P. . del Hoyo . J. . Elliott . A. . Sargatal . J. . Christie . D. A. . de Juana . E. . Birds of the World . 2020 . Cornell Lab of Ornithology . Ithaca, NY, USA . 30 August 2024 . Principe Seedeater (Crithagra rufobrunnea), version 1.0.