Habitat
High-altitude scrub-covered rocky terrain with Euphorbia and Acacia, Juniperus woodland, and Anogeissus / Compiphora woods in Yemen, and steep-sided valleys and seaward facing slopes with luxuriant tree growth of Adansonia digitata, Comiphora habessinica and shrub euphorbias in Oman.
Oman (B) (NB), Saudi Arabia (B) (NB), Yemen (B) (NB).
South-western Saudi Arabia, western and eastern Yemen and south-western Oman.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 6,000 (2010).
Status NT
Habitat degradation, due to over-grazing and clearance for agriculture, is the main threat.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus percivali) [XC676935]
by Gregory Askew from Al Bahah, Al Mandaq, Al Bahah Province, Saudi Arabia (call, song)
Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus percivali) [XC371444]
by Matthias Feuersenger from Ayn Hamran, Dhofar, Oman (call, song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Rhynchostruthus socotranus (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Socotra Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus socotranus), Arabian Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus percivali) and Somali Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus louisae) following Kirwan and Grieve (2007).
Previously considered conspecific with Somali Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus louisae) and Socotra Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus socotranus), but morphological and plumage differences sufficient to warrant separation as full species.
Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Socotra Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus socotranus).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet