Description:

Medium-sized starling with nape feathers hackled and elongate, forming long erectile crest. Adult has blackish head with shaggy crest, pinkish mantle and underparts, and blue-green gloss to wings. In non-breeding much duller. Juvenile mainly sandy-brown, with stout yellowish bill, and broad pale fringes to wing feathers.

Distribution:

Common passage migrant through the central region of Gilgit-Baltistan, mainly Hunza, Nagar, Gilgit and Diamer. During passage open country, wooded areas with bushes, trees and orchards, usually near water, often in valleys up to 3000m.

Behavior:

Most insects taken on the ground, birds hurrying in one direction, those at the back of flock flying over those in front so that group moves in a "roller-feeding" manner. Insectivorous during breeding season, when diet dominated by locusts and other grasshoppers; more fruit taken after breeding, and in winter diet includes insects, fruit, seeds and nectar.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of Rosy Starling in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of Rosy Starling

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.