Biometrics and sex identification of the rose‐coloured starling Sturnus roseus

Abstract

Biometric and plumage data on breeding Rose‐coloured Starlings Sturnus roseus showed that the species is partially sexually dimorphic in size and plumage colour. Both sexes develop a brood patch, although it is most frequently found in females. Although males are generally more intensely coloured than females, there is much age‐related overlap in colouration which makes sexing difficult. A discriminant equation based on wing and tarsus lengths was produced to provide an additional tool for sex classification.