Serinus rufobrunneus - The Príncipe seedeater is found only on the island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe. Typically when a species’ habitat is limited, it becomes endangered; this is not the case with the seedeater. There are three recognized subspecies, also limited to São Tomé and Príncipe. As the name implies, the seedeater’s diet consists primarily of seeds, but does include fruit, leaves, and some insects. It is commonly found in woodlands along rivers or coastal areas.
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The islands of São Tomé and Príncipe were uninhabited until the Portuguese established a plantation on São Tomé in 1493. A similar plantation was built on Príncipe in 1500. Both settlements had been awarded as land grants by King João II. The fertile volcanic soil turned the islands into an important source of sugar cane for European markets. By 1573, both islands came under the direct administration of the Portuguese crown. São Tomé and Príncipe became independent from Portugal in 1975.
