Principe Seedeater Crithagra rufobrunnea Scientific name definitions

11–12·5 cm; c. 21–26 g, 28–35 g (fradei). Smallish, rather short-tailed drab-­coloured finch with conical bill. Nominate race is almost entirely warm cinnamon-brown, streaked dark brown on crown to nape, upper­parts rufous or rufous-brown with less distinct streaks; lores dark brown, becoming paler or rufous-brown on cheek and ear-coverts, sometimes with indication of blacker moustachial streak; tail brown, outer feathers finely edged orange-rufous; upperwing-coverts dark brown or blackish, broadly fringed rufous-brown, alula, primary coverts and flight-feathers blackish-brown, secondaries edged warm rufous, tertials fringed light rufous-brown; chin and throat light rufous or cinnamon-buff, finely spotted blackish at side, becoming slightly darker or brownish-cinnamon on underparts, obscure spots and streaks on breast to upper flanks; iris dark brown or black; bill dark horn above, paler horn below; legs brown. Sexes alike. Juvenile is like adult, but generally lacks warm cinnamon tones and is duller brown. Race fradei is slightly larger and deeper rufous than nominate, bill also darker; <em>thomensis</em> is much duller or greyish olive-brown, lacking rufous in plumage, has forehead and crown streaked buffish and dark brown, duller brown below, with off-white or buffish lower throat patch and whitish vent and undertail-coverts.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Primary and secondary forests, including gallery forest, dry woodlands, riverine and coastal woodlands, also open areas with scattered trees, edges of cultivation, cocoa plantations and coconut palms, on São Tomé also in city, suburban and town gardens; on I Bone de Jókei (race fradei) occurs only in oil palms (Elaeis guineensis). Sea-level to c. 1500 m.

Resident.

Mainly seeds, leaves and fruits ; some insects. Includes fruits of Cecropia, Cestrum levigatum, leaves of Musanga and Carica papaya, and buds of Erythrina and Schefflera, also pulp of oil-palm fruit. Forages on and close to ground, in bushes and high in trees, also at edges of streams; climbs tree trunks and branches in manner of a nuthatch (Sittidae), probing and pecking at bark and lichens while foraging for insects and larvae. Singly, in pairs and in small flocks.

Song  a slow series of warbling notes, trills and twitters, including high-pitched "pss-pss-pss" and a chattering "cha-cha-cha-cha", and ending with loud and rising "twee", similar to song of S. canaria. Fairly noisy; frequent calls include clear "tsweet", "zeewee", "weeyoo", "weeyip", "witup" and a more nasal " zwoey" or "zweeya".

Season Mar, May–Aug and Oct–Jan. Solitary. Male sings for prolonged periods, spreading tail and fluttering half-opened wings while twisting body to right and left. Nest an open cup of thin twigs and dry plant stems. Clutch 2–3 eggs, white. No further information.

Not globally threatened. Restricted range species: present in Príncipe EBA and São Tomé EBA. Common on São Tomé; uncommon or scarce on Príncipe. Tiny island of Bone de Jókei densely populated, with endemic race fradei estimated to number well over 1000 individuals. On Príncipe presence in certain areas fluctuates annually, most numerous along narrow fringe of S coast.