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. The 2012 National Red List gives no status under this name.