View source for Golden-winged grosbeak

{{Short description|Genus of birds}}
{{automatic taxobox
| name = Golden-winged grosbeaks
| image = Rhynchostruthus socotranus 2.jpg
| image_caption = [[Socotra grosbeak]], ''Rhynchostruthus socotranus''
| taxon = Rhynchostruthus
| authority = [[Philip Lutley Sclater|P.L. Sclater]] & [[Hartlaub]], 1881
| type_species = ''[[Socotra golden-winged grosbeak|Rhynchostruthus socotranus]]''<ref name=HM4>{{cite web |url= https://www.aviansystematics.org/4th-edition-checklist?viewfamilies=196 |title= Fringillidae |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website= aviansystematics.org |publisher= The Trust for Avian Systematics |access-date= 2023-07-16}}</ref>
| type_species_authority = P.L. Sclater & Hartlaub, 1881
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = 
''[[Rhynchostruthus louisae]]''<br/>
''[[Rhynchostruthus percivali]]''<br/>
''[[Rhynchostruthus socotranus]]''
}}

The [[genus]] '''''Rhynchostruthus''''' is a small group of [[finch]]es in the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Fringillinae]]. Commonly known as '''golden-winged grosbeaks''', they are attractive, chunky, medium-sized, robust-billed [[songbird]]s restricted to the southern [[Arabia]]n and northern [[Somalia]]n regions.

These elusive birds are typically found between 1,060 and 2,800 metres [[Above mean sea level|ASL]] in forested [[wadi]]s and areas of scrub. The fruits of [[juniper]]s, [[acacia]]s and [[spurge]]s appear to form the bulk of their diet.

==Description==
These birds have slight [[sexual dichromatism]]. Males are grey-brown overall with a black bill, dark mask, white cheeks, and large, bright yellow patches on the wings and tail. The extent of the dark head-pattern and white cheek-patches varies considerably between [[taxa]]. The females are similar to the males though somewhat duller, and the juveniles are rather streaky and lack the adults' distinctive head pattern.

==Systematics==
The large bill suggests a relationship with the Asian [[grosbeak]]s - e.g. ''[[Mycerobas]]'' - but its song and calls are reminiscent of [[European goldfinch]] ''Carduelis carduelis'', [[European greenfinch]] ''C. chloris'', and [[Yemen linnet]] ''C. yemenensis''. Also it has been observed performing a greenfinch-like slow-winged display flight which suggests its true affinities may lie within the genus ''[[Carduelis]]''. Altogether, ''Rhynchostruthus'' seems to belong to a group of [[Carduelinae]] which includes such birds as ''[[Carduelis]]'', the [[oriole finch]] (''Linurgus olivaceus''), and the [[Atlantic canary|canaries]], many of which have large amounts of brilliant yellow plumage. But the exact placement of the golden-winged grosbeaks is not very well resolved. Molecular genetic studies have shown that ''Rhynchostruthus'' and ''[[Rhodospiza]]'' form a distinct clade but are not closely related to any other of the birds commonly referred to as "[[grosbeak]]s".<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Zuccon | first1=Dario | last2=Prŷs-Jones | first2=Robert | last3=Rasmussen | first3=Pamela C. | last4=Ericson | first4=Per G.P. | year=2012 | title=The phylogenetic relationships and generic limits of finches (Fringillidae) | journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution | volume=62 | issue=2 | pages=581–596 | doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2011.10.002 | url=http://www.nrm.se/download/18.9ff3752132fdaeccb6800010935/Zuccon%20et%20al%202012.pdf | pmid=22023825 | bibcode=2012MolPE..62..581Z | access-date=2015-06-21 | archive-date=2018-09-26 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926130508/http://www.nrm.se/download/18.9ff3752132fdaeccb6800010935/Zuccon%20et%20al%202012.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref>

The genus used to contain a single species, ''Rhynchostruthus socotranus''. But more recently this is often split into three:<ref name=Kirwan2007>{{cite journal | last1=Kirwan | first1=G.M. | last2=Grieve | first2=A.| year=2007 | title=Studies of Socotran birds II. One, two or three species: towards a rational taxonomy for the Golden-winged Grosbeak ''Rhynchostruthus socotranus'' | journal=Bulletin of the African Bird Club | volume=14 | issue=2 | pages=159–169| doi=10.5962/p.309814 }}</ref><ref name=iou>{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | title=Finches, euphonias | work= World Bird List Version 5.2| url=http://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/finches/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union| accessdate=5 June 2015 }}</ref>
* [[Socotra golden-winged grosbeak]], ''Rhynchostruthus socotranus''
* [[Arabian golden-winged grosbeak]], ''Rhynchostruthus percivali''
* [[Somali golden-winged grosbeak]], ''Rhynchostruthus louisae''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071006112648/http://www.birdsoman.com/Birds/161-Finches/GoldenwingedGrosbeak/GoldenwingedGrosbeak.htm Socotra Grosbeak photographs]. Retrieved 2008-MAY-27.

{{Passeroidea|N.|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q690666}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Golden-winged grosbeak}}
[[Category:Rhynchostruthus|*]]
[[Category:Finches]]
[[Category:Grosbeaks]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Philip Sclater]]

{{Fringillidae-stub}}