The Rosy Starling is a medium-sized (19-24 cm) passerine (perching) bird in the starling family, gregarious in nature, thus living and moving in communal harmony. It is a vision in black and pale pink, hence the name. The males are often more vibrant than the females. During their breeding time (May-June), they assume a longer crest and showcase a pink beak and legs (yellow-orange-ish in non-breeding times). Juveniles are considerably duller with brown, black, and white shades on the body. The scientific name Pastor roseus has been derived from the Latin word ‘pastor’ meaning shepherd and ‘roseus’, literally meaning rosy or rose-coloured.
Starlings are mostly found in flocks, and this bird is no different. It breeds in Eastern Europe and certain parts of Asia in huge colonies along the Steppes. During breeding season, they follow an insectivore diet, feeding mostly on invertebrates. At this time, they help farmers get rid of locusts and other pests on their land, thus acting like natural pest controllers. Their breeding is lined perfectly with the abundance of locusts and grasshoppers to satiate their innate need for food during these times. Once the pairing is complete, both adults assist in building a nest which is placed in crevices on cliffs, in old buildings, and in tree holes as well.
Their feeding behaviour changes drastically when they migrate in mid July-August, to the Indian Subcontinent and other tropical areas in Asia. Here they feed on fruits and berries (wild and cultivated) and also eat white millet (jowar) with an occasional insect too.
The Rosy Starling is a strong flier, has a direct flight, accompanied by rapid wing-beats and short glides. It is one of the very few birds that spends very less time in its breeding range and spends most of the year in its wintering range.
Huge flocks of these starlings often indulge in a mass aerial stunt where thousands of birds swoop and dive in unison — called starling murmuration, a phenomenon captured in several videos and pictures online.
It is a mesmerising act of pure pleasantry. One may assume that they flock together to evade predators like falcons and eagles that have the tendency to hunt singled out birds.
They usually perform these stunts especially at dawn and dusk, coming out of roost or before they roost for the night.
Year after year, flocks of rosy starlings (pastor roseus) migrate from Eastern Europe to South Asia. The bird is definitely a strong migrant — to be able to take that distant travel in winter to India. The starling is a winter visitor in Sri Lanka and India, it includes the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and the rest of Andhra Pradesh .
“These pretty birds are often the harbingers of the yearly migration of birds to Maharashtra and southern states, wintering here before going back,” “These birds, also called as rosy pastors, are a delightful sight as flocks of them flutter in the air, settling like pinkish leaves, on trees.” these birds belong to the starling family and the adult of this species is highly distinctive, with its pink body, pale orange legs and bill. It has a glossy black head, wings and tail. Males in the breeding season have foppish head feathers, which form a wispy crest that is fluffed and more prominent when the bird gets excited. In fact, the floppy hair style of some of our male celebrities and models, seem to have been copied off the bird! Their song, , is a typical mixture of squeaks and rattles, given with much wing trembling.Generally seen in large groups, it is a pleasure to watch the huge flock doing what is known as murmuration. Having migrated in millions to spend their winters here, these birds put up quite a show, especially at dawn and dusk. Researchers and scientists aren’t sure why murmurations happen but they have theories that suggest that this chaotic, yet graceful motion might be to confuse and ward off predators, “Thousands gather and form a bird cloud which looks like a flock of honey bees travelling, from a distance.”Their numbers are so large and because they move around in flocks, they often appear to outnumber the local starlings and mynas in the city.In China, a research conducted on these birds in the 1980s found that they primarily feed on flightless locusts. This practice helped in the elimination of locusts in fields where they were the main crop pests, thereby reducing dependence on chemical insecticide which is harmful for humans. By the end of the 20 Century, application of insecticide to the crops was decreased to a great extent, says the study.
During their reverse migration in the month of March-April, when they move upwards and then to their breeding grounds.
The Migration of rosy starlings has been going on for centuries and it’s a great feeling to welcome our winter visitors to South Asia, year after year,
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