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Rosy Starling

Sturnus roseus

Description:

The adult of this species is highly distinctive, with its pink body, pale orange legs and bill, and glossy black head, wings and tail. Males in the breeding season have elongated head feathers which form a wispy crest that is fluffed and more prominent when the bird gets excited; the crest is shorter in winter and the black areas have paler feather edges, which get worn away as well as the black becoming more glossy in the breeding season. Winter plumage in males is rather dull. Females have a short crest and are duller overall, especially without the sharp separation between pink and black. The breeding range of this bird is from easternmost Europe across temperate southern Asia.[1] It is a strong migrant, and winters in India and tropical Asia. In India in winter, it often appears to outnumber the local starlings and mynas. The Rosy Starling is a bird of steppe and open agricultural land. In years when grasshoppers and other insects are abundant, it will erupt well beyond its core range, with significant numbers reaching France and the United Kingdom.

Habitat:

Seen near open fields.

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8 Comments

Wild Things
Wild Things 11 years ago

Thanks and welcome, animaisfotos!

animaisfotos
animaisfotos 11 years ago

Most impressive. Thanks for sharing.

Wild Things
Wild Things 11 years ago

Thanks Sachin. You have got a nice collection.

Sachin Zaveri
Sachin Zaveri 11 years ago

Nice to see them in such a big group I also got chance to capture their flight, http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/901...

Wild Things
Wild Things 11 years ago

Fantastic video. Thanks a lot for sharing. The site of these birds flying is almost similar.

patty
patty 11 years ago

It must be nice when they all start flying...
I found this sample which I found nice to share:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eakKfY5aH...

Sachin Zaveri
Sachin Zaveri 12 years ago

Big Group !!

Wild Things
Wild Things 12 years ago

On my recent visit I saw many Rosy starlings getting together in the evening before heading home. Uploaded the first pic from such an evening gathering. Flocks and flocks would arrive and join in.

Wild Things
Spotted by
Wild Things

Gujarat, India

Spotted on Dec 3, 2011
Submitted on Dec 7, 2011

Spotted for Mission

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