Rosy Starling (Pastor roseus)
Rustic Bunting (Emberiza rustica)
Adults at close range unmistakable with their striking pink and shiny black plumage and crest. In flight note the pale back in contrast to the black head and wings. Head profile quite different from Starling. Bill considerably shorter and slightly down-curved. Forehead flatter and head more rounded when crest is not erect. Immature birds more anonymous, with brownish upperparts, pale belly and darker brown wings with pale fringed coverts and flight feathers. Bill yellowish with darker tip and legs flesh coloured. Very gregarious and immature vagrants usually seeks company with European Starling. Then easily spotted as a much paler bird. Especially the rump stands out in flight. European Starling sometimes show pale plumage but can then be identified by bill shape. Forages with less rapid head movements than ES.
Sound:Starling-like timbre, higher pitched and not so harsh as E. Starling. At the same time less musical with few pure notes. Song consist mostly of short and sharp "veet" and various thin, noisy whistles, delivered in accelerating bursts reminiscent of Barn Swallow or E. Starling. Often perceived more like a constant din from roosting flocks.
Song:
Distribution:
Xeno-canto: map
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCAll plumages differs from Reed Bunting, and most other buntings by; white belly, pale cheek-patch, flanks coarsely spotted in rufous red, rufous rump with no streaking, pale pinkish legs and lower mandible. Summer plumage male easily recognized by boldly rufous breast and contrasting black and white head pattern. Young male resembles females, and may breed before adult plumage is fully developed. Posture often erect when moving around on the ground. Crown feathers often erect. Flight pattern light and fluttering, and more even than in Reed Bunting.
Sound:Contact call a short "zick", like Little Bunting, but slightly sharper. Song distinct and melodic: A soft, fluting phrase in an undulating rhythm. Integrated in the flute-like tones are high-pitched, dunnock-like bi-notes, especially towards the end of each phrase.
Song:
Distribution:
Xeno-canto: map
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CC