Sao Tome Grosbeak Crithagra concolor Scientific name definitions

19–20 cm. Large, uniformly coloured finch with massive bill . Plumage is almost entirely dark cinnamon-brown or chocolate-brown, with short blackish streaks (visible at close range) on crown to nape and ear-coverts; lores to eye dark brown, mantle, scapulars and bases of wing and tail slightly darker or blackish-brown; iris dark brown or black; bill dark horn; legs dark brown to blackish. Sexes presumed alike. Juvenile undescribed.

Previously thought to be restricted to lowland, dense closed-canopy primary forest at 230–400 m, but in 2010–2011 recorded in areas at 1300–1400 m in young secondary forests (2 Solé, N., Alberto, A., Sambal, S., Santana, A. and Faustino de Lima, R. (2012). New hope for the critically endangered Sao Tomé Grosbeak Neospiza concolor and an alert to protect Obó Natural Park surroundings. Ostrich. 83(3): 161-163. Close ).

Sedentary.

Diet largely unknown; food mostly hard-shelled seeds or fruits , as indicated by bill size. Forages in Uapaca guineensis and Dicranolepis thomensis trees; also in Oxyanthus speciosus and Trema orientalis (2 Solé, N., Alberto, A., Sambal, S., Santana, A. and Faustino de Lima, R. (2012). New hope for the critically endangered Sao Tomé Grosbeak Neospiza concolor and an alert to protect Obó Natural Park surroundings. Ostrich. 83(3): 161-163. Close ); forages at middle level and in canopy of forest trees, also on ground. In pairs and singly.

Song a 2-note whistle  , second note higher, frequently repeated, similar in tone to that of C. rufobrunnea; call a brief series of 4–5 short whistles.

No information.

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED. Restricted range species: present in São Tomé EBA. Very poorly known. Discovered in 1888, but seen infrequently and soon considered extinct, until rediscovery in 1991 near R Xufexufe, in SW São Tomé; subsequently reported on about six further occasions, from the Xufexufe, Ribeira Peixe and São Miguel areas. Small amount of suitable habitat remaining and scarcity of records indicates a tiny global population, currently believed to number fewer than 50 individuals BirdLife International (2015) Species factsheet: Neospiza concolor. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 11/06/2015. . In the past, large areas of lowland forest were cleared for cocoa plantations. At present time, land privatization has led to increase in number of small farms and consequent tree clearance; although this does not impinge on primary forest, it could become a threat in the future. Vulnerable to further loss of habitat; potential threats also from increasing human access to remote areas owing to road developments. In addition, introduced predators, namely black rat (Rattus rattus), mona monkey (Cercopithecus mona), African civet (Civettictis civetta) and weasel (Mustela nivalis), could represent a threat, and this possibility needs to be investigated. Primary forest on São Tomé is protected both in Obô Natural Park (IUCN Cat. not reported; 235 km²) and elsewhere, but law enforcement in these areas is non-existent; also, lack of information on this species' ecological requirements severely hampers any attempt to assess the benefits provided by such areas. Observations in 2010–2011 between Santa Maria and Calvário, to the N of Obô, of birds at altitudes of 1300–1400 m feeding on plants characteristic of disturbed areas, raise new hope for survival (2 Solé, N., Alberto, A., Sambal, S., Santana, A. and Faustino de Lima, R. (2012). New hope for the critically endangered Sao Tomé Grosbeak Neospiza concolor and an alert to protect Obó Natural Park surroundings. Ostrich. 83(3): 161-163. Close ). Conservation initiatives already started include the training of local communities in implementation of site-based conservation and a programme designed to raise public awareness of the species' plight. Research is urgently required to determine its population size, distribution and ecological demands, and to identify major threats so that the necessary conservation action can be taken. Ensure designated protected areas are actively protected.