Rosy Starling

Photo by john-henry
Lesvos, Greece, May 2004

Alternarive names: Rose-coloured Starling, Rosy Pastor

Pastor roseus

Sturnus roseus

Identification

21cm. A medium-sized Starling.

• Rose-pink body with glossy black crested head, neck, wings, vent and tail
• Pink legs
• Orange/pink short and stout bill in summer, brown in winter
• Pink parts sullied grey in winter

A first-year bird, the type that most often occur as vagrants in western Europe
Photo by jandok
Lauwersmeer, Netherlands

Sexes similar, females are a bit duller and have a shorter crest. Juveniles don't have a crest. They have sandy-brown upperparts, dark, pale-fringed wings, a dark tail and whitish underparts. Their bill is yellowish. The pale rump and the dark patches under the wing show in flight.

Similar Species

Juvenile resembles a pale young Common Starling, but can be identified by the pink legs and paler plumage.

Distribution

	Breeds regularly from southern Ukraine east over the central Asian steppes to Kazakhstan, Western Mongolia and south to eastern Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and northwest China. Occasionally further west to Eastern Europe and as a vagrant in western Europe. Most birds winter in India and Sri Lanka. Common to abundant in its range
	Legend • S. roseus; breeding range • S. roseus; winter Maps/Texts consulted2

Birds in flight
Photo by Pavel
South Dobrudja, Bulgaria, June 2002

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1], which is sometimes placed in the genus Sturnus.

Habitat

Steppe and open agricultural land.

Behaviour

Gregarious, forming flocks with Common Starling.

Breeding

Nests in holes in walls, among stones on open ground. Breeds colonial, some colonies with thousands of birds.

Diet

Its diet includes grasshoppers and other insects.

Vocalisation

High-pitched rapid chatter when feeding in flocks. <flashmp3>Sturnus roseus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507

1. Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
2. Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
3. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Rosy Starling. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 6 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Rosy_Starling

External Links

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