- Sturnus roseus
AKA Rose-coloured Starling
Identification
Pink body, pale orange legs and bill, black head, wings and tail. Males in the breeding season have elongated head feathers forming a wispy crest that is fluffed and more prominent when the bird gets excited. Females have a short crest and are duller overall. A photo is included of a first-year bird, the type that most often occur as vagrants in western Europe.
Distribution
Eastern Europe, Asia and India. Vagrants to western Europe.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species which is sometimes placed in the genus Pastor.
Habitat
Steppe and open agricultural land.
Behaviour
Its diet includes grasshoppers and other insects.
Bird Song
<flashmp3>Sturnus roseus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
