Rosy Starling

The rosy starling, or rose-coloured starling, is a starling that was restored to its own genus, Pastor, in 2008. Its closest relative is thought to be the wattled starling of tropical Africa. It is about the size of a common starling, 19 to 22 cm long and 60 to 88 g. Breeding plumage is highly distinctive, with a pink body, glossy black head, wings and tail, pink to pale orange legs and a bill with a black base and bright pink tip (Wikipedia, general species account).

Breeding males have elongated head feathers forming a wispy crest that is fluffed when excited, and in winter the crest is shorter and the black feathers are edged pale. It has no subspecies.