Pastor roseus, the adult of this species is highly
distinctive, with its pink body, pale orange legs and bill, and glossy
black head, wings and tail. Males in the breeding season have elongated
head feathers which form a wispy crest that is fluffed and more
prominent when the bird gets excited; the crest is shorter in winter and
the black areas have paler feather edges, which get worn away as well
as the black becoming more glossy in the breeding season. Winter plumage
in males is rather dull. Females have a short crest and are duller
overall, especially without the sharp separation between pink and black.
The juvenile can be distinguished from common starling (Sturnus
vulgaris) by its obviously paler plumage and short yellow bill. Young
birds molt into a subdued version of the adult plumage, lacking the
crest, in autumn and acquire the adult plumage when they are nearly one
year old in females, and nearly two years in males. The latter in their
second year wear a plumage similar to adult females but with longer
crests and noticeably pale feather edges.
