Rose star
| Rose star | ||||||||||||
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Rosenstar, male |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Pastor roseus | ||||||||||||
| ( Linnaeus , 1758) |
The rose star ( Pastor roseus , syn .: Sturnus roseus ) is a species of bird from the starling family . It is often invasive and very sociable.
Appearance
With a length of 19 to 22 cm, the rose star is the same size as the star ( Sturnus vulgaris ) and its physique essentially corresponds to that of the star: with its short, powerful tail and pointed, triangular-shaped wings , it is a fast and good flyer. Its weight is between 59 and 89 grams.
The body plumage of the adult animals is a dull pink and contrasts with the black head, wings and tail. The head of the male is adorned with a crest reaching down to the nape of the neck, and like the wings it has a green metallic sheen. The female is generally duller in color, with a shorter forelock and brown wings.
Young birds look very similar to those of the star, but are generally lighter and show a striking contrast between dark wings and light body plumage. In comparison, the beak is shorter, lighter and yellowish in color at the base. In flight, the young rose star reveals a light rump , which can also occur in the star with its strong color variations.
Individuals in the first winter differ from adult animals in that they have a dirty and washed-out pink color and often lack of shine on the feathers.
Vocalizations
The singing is made up of harsh sounds that are reminiscent of cracking, crunching and bright noises, such as those created when walking over broken glass. It looks lively and typically starry, even if not with the same wealth of variations as it is presented by the star. The calls are short and rough.
distribution
The rose star can be found in the steppes , semi-deserts and deserts of Central Asia and Southeast Europe. It can be found from northwestern Mongolia via Djungaria , Xinjiang , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan , Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to southern Russia, Ukraine , Azerbaijan and Armenia . Its southern distribution area extends to the north of Afghanistan and Iran . Irregular and rare broods are also observed outside this area ( Romania ). It winters mainly on the Indian subcontinent .
In Central Europe it appears in small numbers, and in the past also in large numbers in Hungary . In the other countries it is very irregular, increasingly rare towards the west. However, captive refugees are not uncommon as the rose star is quite popular among breeders.
habitat
Mainly the rose star prefers steppe, semi-desert and desert landscapes as well as Mediterranean plains. It is common in areas with high levels of locusts , which it also follows. The rose star can be observed in dry, open areas as well as in grasslands or rocky scree slopes.
It needs direct access to water, but is independent of wetlands or coasts. He likes to seek refuge in loose groups of trees and bushes. Mass migrations lead the sociable animals over higher landscapes or mountain regions.
food
During the breeding season, the birds feed mainly on insects, mainly grasshoppers and hayhorses , and other swarming jumpers ( Orthoptera ). After the youngsters fledged, the main food consists mainly of grapes and mulberries . In autumn and winter it also eats fruits, nectar and seeds. Field locusts (Acrididae) are unable to fly for around 40 to 50 days in summer and thus form an excellent food source for the rose star.
Rose starlings take their prey almost exclusively from the ground, and locusts are rarely caught in flight. When the locusts are picked up from the ground, large flocks of starlings form, all of which move in one direction. The birds in front move faster than those behind, which compensate for this with a short flight forward. This creates a rolling group dynamic .
Rose starlings are considered useful for many rural populations, as they often seek their food among grazing cattle and decimate the dreaded swarms of locusts .
Reproduction
The few populations in southeast Europe begin to breed from late May to mid-June. More eastern populations, for example in Kazakhstan, begin as early as mid-April to mid-May. The nest location is very variable. They are often found in small intervals of stone and rubble, rock crevices, cliffs, under railroad ties, walls or bridges, under roots or thatched roofs, in abandoned or occupied holes in the sand martin and sometimes in tree holes, old willow.
The rough nest consists of thin twigs and grass and is padded with finer grass, fresh wormwood or feathers. Often you can also find stems and leaves of herbaceous plants of several years , especially giant fennel ( Ferula communis ).
The nest is often used for several years.
Eggs
The female lays three to six eggs, which are pale blue to sky blue in color and only show a slight sheen. The eggs are incubated by both sexes for 14 to 16 days before the young hatch.
Migratory behavior
Starlings are migratory birds and overwinter southeast of the breeding areas on the Indian subcontinent and the islands of Sri Lanka . Rose starlings migrate in large flocks. The western populations first move directly to the east, then to the southeast towards India. Once there, they spread across the entire subcontinent, east to Bihar and south to the island-shaped coastal areas.
literature
- Glutz von Blotzheim, UN and KM Bauer : Handbook of the birds of Central Europe. Volume 13-III: Passeriformes. 4th part: Corvidae - Sturnidae. 1993.
Web links
- Pastor roseus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2008. Accessed January 31 of 2009.
- Videos from the Internet Bird Collection (English)
- Feathers of the rose star