Starlings · Perching birds
Rosy Starling
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Pastor roseus
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How to recognize it
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19–22 cm, jackdaw-sized
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Pink body; glossy black head, wings and tail
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Short thick bill; pale yellow legs
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Flocks often; mixed squeaks and rattles
About the species
Rosy Starlings move in loose, noisy flocks and spend much of their time on the ground, walking with quick, bobbing steps while they search as they go. Their call is a mix of squeaks and rattles, and the sounds carry through a busy group.
They are social through the year and often breed in colonies. During the short breeding season, they focus on insect-rich places and work over the ground in groups, with many moving forward as others fly past them.
They breed in steppe, semi-desert, and other open country across Central Asia and parts of southeast Europe. Outside the breeding season they move to fruit trees, orchards, vineyards, and wintering areas farther south, where they feed on insects, fruit, berries, seeds, grains, and nectar.
Where to find
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On the city edge by fields, vacant lots, and rough grass — look for Rosy Starling flocks running over the ground and snatching insects.
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Near fruit trees, grapevines, and mulberry-heavy streets — noisy groups drop in to feed, then lift back to wires or rooftops.
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Around old buildings with roof gaps, bridges, and stone riverbanks — watch for clusters that tuck into cracks and call from ledges.
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In the early morning by puddles, canal edges, and pond margins — small flocks come down to drink and probe damp ground for food.
