Golden-winged Grosbeak

The Socotra Grosbeak or Socotra Golden-winged Grosbeak is a finch endemic to Socotra, an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Yemen. R. socotranus is by some authorities held to be the only species of the then-monotypic genus Rhynchostruthus, including all other golden-winged grosbeaks therein as subspecies. But in recent times the three populations are usually considered a distinct species, with R. socotranus being limited to the Socotra population, the Arabian Grosbeak becoming R. percivali, and the Somali Grosbeak R. louisae.

The Golden-winged Grosbeak is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

But the exact placement of the golden-winged grosbeaks is not very well resolved. What seems certain is that Rhynchostruthus is not very closely related to any other of the birds commonly referred to as "grosbeaks". The genus used to contain a single species, Rhynchostruthus socotranus. More

Golden-winged Grosbeak on Croton. Picture by R.F. Porter. By Richard Porter The Yemen Council of Ministers recently approved the Golden-winged Grosbeak as Yemen's national bird. This colourful bird with a huge beak for eating fruits and seeds is resident in the highlands of Yemen and on the island of Socotra. The Arabian Leopard was chosen as the national mammal, the Dragon Blood Tree (a Socotran endemic) as the national tree and the Aloe (Aloe irafensis) as the national plant. More

for the Socotra Golden-winged Grosbeak to come to drink at a small pool. After a wait of 75 minutes we finally had good views of the bird and were able to photograph it. We then headed to the airport to arrive at three hours before flight; the departure was at 12:30pm. More

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. More

Richard Porter The Golden-winged Grosbeak has been chosen as Yemen’s national bird. Click for more information. Zoom In Yemen names national bird = 03-07-2008 The Yemen Council of Ministers has recently approved the Golden-winged Grosbeak as Yemen's national bird. This colourful bird, with a huge beak for eating fruits and seeds, occurs in Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen. More