Príncipe seedeater

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.^[2] Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.^[1]

Príncipe seedeater
Crithagra rufobrunnea thomensis in São Tomé
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Fringillidae
Subfamily:	Carduelinae
Genus:	Crithagra
Species:	C. rufobrunnea
Binomial name
Crithagra rufobrunnea (G.R. Gray, 1862)
Synonyms
Serinus rufobrunneus (Gray, 1862)

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.^[3] The genus was therefore split and a number of species including the Príncipe seedeater were moved to the resurrected genus Crithagra.^[4][5]

Subspecies

Three subspecies are currently recognised:^[6]

• Crithagra rufobrunnea rufobrunnea, the nominate subspecies, endemic to Príncipe. Colour cinnamon-brown.^[6]
• 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.^[6]
• 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.^[6]