GULF OF GUINEA CONSERVATION GROUP

GULF OF GUINEA ISLANDS' BIODIVERSITY NETWORK

São Tomé Grosbeak rediscovered

The São Tomé Grosbeak Neospiza concolor was first discovered by Francisco Newton in 1888 in the SW lowland rainforests of São Tomé - since this first sighting and collection, the species has remained elusive to ornithologists. A reported sighting in 1992* was met with scepticism by some but a new sighting by Martin Dallimer, Tony King and Pedro Leitao in late 2001 along with the first ever photo of a living bird confirms that this species is not extinct as was previously suspected. Details are to be published shortly!

It is with great pleasure that with the kind permission of Martin Dallimer ** we show you here the first ever photo of the São Tomé Grosbeak.

* Sergeant, D. E., Gullick, T., Turner, D. A. and Sinclair, J. C. 1992. The rediscovery of the São Tomé Grosbeak Neospiza concolor in south-western São Tomé. Bird Conservation International 2: 157-159.

**Photo © 2002 M. Dallimer