Photo: Koshy Koshy / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rosy Starling
Pastor roseus
Rosy Starling (Pastor roseus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rosy Starling (Pastor roseus) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 73 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Sturnidae Starlings, Rhabdornises
- Genus Pastor
- Species roseus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 73 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rosy Starling is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Rosy Starling is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Rosy Starling (Pastor roseus) is a member of the Sturnidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL se Europe to wc Asia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 73 g, with a wing length of about 12.9 cm and a tail of around 7.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 5.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rosy Starling?
The Rosy Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 73 g.
Where does the Rosy Starling live?
The Rosy Starling is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL se Europe to wc Asia, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Rosy Starling belong to?
The Rosy Starling (Pastor roseus) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Rosy Starling eat?
The Rosy Starling is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Rosy Starling migrate?
The Rosy Starling is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Rosy Starling endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Rosy Starling make?
1 real field recording of the Rosy Starling — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rosy Starling's range?
The Rosy Starling has a mapped global range of about 5.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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