Crithagra concolor

WILDLIFE

Crithagra concolor

Crithagra concolor

About

The São Tomé grosbeak (Crithagra concolor) is the largest member of the canary genus Crithagra, 50% heavier than the next largest canary species. It is endemic to the island of São Tomé. For a long period this bird was known only from three nineteenth-century specimens. It was rediscovered in 1991. The current population is estimated at less than 250, and it is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN. The São Tomé grosbeak was formerly placed in the genus Neospiza (meaning "new finch") but was assigned to the genus Crithagra based on a phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences.

Habitat

The São Tomé grosbeak, when rediscovered, was thought to inhabit exclusively lowland, old-growth forests in the lower elevations of the south of the island. Observations in the early 2000s indicated that the species was also inhabiting younger forests at higher elevations (between 1,300–1,400 m). The grosbeak is a very discrete species, and thus difficult to detect; its believed scarcity may also be a function of persistent non-detection during surveys.

Population threats

The São Tomé grosbeak may hybridise with the São Tomé seedeater (Serinus rufobrunneus thomensis), which could pollute an already small genetic pool.

Fun facts

Several introduced species like the black rat (Rattus rattus), mona monkey (Cercopithecus mona), African civet (Civettictis civetta), and feral cats (Felis catus) live on the island, and could presumably predate on the grosbeak. However, no data currently exists about predation's effects on the population; further research is needed to assess whether these species are threats to the São Tomé grosbeak's survival.

Location on the map

0.10°N, 5.75°E · Google Maps satellite

Open map
View on globeView on map