Arabian golden-winged grosbeak | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Fringillidae |
Genus: | Rhynchostruthus |
Species: | R. percivali |
Binomial name | |
Rhynchostruthus percivali Ogilvie-Grant, 1900 |
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Synonyms | |
Rhynchostruthus socotranus percivali |
Rhynchostruthus socotranus percivali
The Arabian golden-winged grosbeak or Arabian 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.
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.
The Arabian Golden-winged 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 Mahra of eastern Yemen, and the mountains of northern Yemen 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.
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.