Submission No 520: Rosy (Rose-Coloured) Starling Sturnus roseus, Coffs Harbour, NSW 4th December 2006. Submitted by: Craig Cassady

 

 

Verdict:  Accepted

 

 

This submission relates to the remarkable occurrence of a Rosy Starling Sturnus roseus captured in a Myna trap in the suburban location in Coffs Harbour, NSW on the 4th December 2006. The bird was photographed and then released on the 6th December 2006.

 

The submission relies entirely on photographic evidence which clearly depicts an adult bird in the hand. Initial thoughts were that the bird could have been an escapee, but local research via the internet revealed that this bird was most likely of vagrant origin.

 

Members voted unanimously in favour of acceptance concurring with the findings of the submitter that this bird is most likely a vagrant as opposed to an escapee.  This is the first record for NSW and the 3rd for Australia.

 

 

Selected Bibliography:

 

  • Ali, S. & Ripley, S.D. (1983), A Pictorial Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  • Beaman, M. & Madge, S. (1998) The Handbook of Bird Identification for Europe and the Western Palearctic, Princeton University Press, New Jersey.
  • Cramp, S. & Perrins, C.M., (eds.) (1992), The Birds of the Western Palearctic, Vol. VIII, Crows to Finches, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  • Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C. & Inskipp, T. (1998), Birds of the Indian Subcontinent, Christopher Helm, London.
  • Jonsson, L. (2003), Birds of Europe with North Africa & the Middle East, Christopher Helm, London.
  • Lewington, I., Alstrom, P. & Colston, P. (1991), A Field Guide to the Rare Birds of Britain and Europe, HarperCollins, London.
  • MacKinnon, J. & Phillipps, K. (1993), A Field Guide to the Birds of Borneo, Sumatra, Java and Bali, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  • Mullarney, K., Svensson, L., Zetterstrom, D. & Grant, P.J. (1999) Collins Bird Guide, HarperCollinsPublishers, London.
  • Robson, C. (2000), A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia, New Holland, London.

 

 

Tony Palliser

Chairman, Birds Australia Rarities Committee