Myna

Myna
The mynas (also spelled mynah) are a group of birds in the starling family (Sturnidae). This is a group of passerine birds which are native to southern Asia, especially India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Several species have been introduced to areas like North America, Australia, South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand, especially the common myna, which is often regarded as an invasive species.
Mynas are not a natural group; instead, the term myna is used for any starling in the Indian subcontinent, regardless of their relationships. This range was colonized twice during the evolution of starlings, first by rather ancestral starlings related to the coleto and Aplonis lineages, and millions of years later by birds related to the common starling and wattled starling's ancestors. These two groups of mynas can be distinguished in the more terrestrial adaptions of the latter, which usually also have less glossy plumage, except on the heads, and longer tails. The Bali myna, which is critically endangered and nearly extinct in the wild, is highly distinctive.
Some mynas are considered talking birds, for their ability to reproduce sounds, including human speech, when in captivity.
Myna is derived from the Hindi language mainā which itself is derived from Sanskrit madanā.
Characteristics
Mynas are medium-sized passerines with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct, and they are gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit.
Plumage is typically dark, often brown, although some species have yellow head ornaments. Most species nest in holes.
Some species have become well known for their imitative skills; the common hill myna is one of these.
Species
The following are species of mynas. The coleto and the two Saroglossa starlings are included because of their position in the taxonomic list.
Jungle and hill mynas
Yellow-faced myna, Mino dumontii
Golden myna, Mino anais
Long-tailed myna, Mino kreffti
Sulawesi myna, Basilornis celebensis
Helmeted myna, Basilornis galeatus
Long-crested myna, Basilornis corythaix
Apo myna, Basilornis miranda
White-necked myna, Streptocitta albicollis
Bare-eyed myna, Streptocitta albertinae
Fiery-browed myna, Enodes erythrophris
Finch-billed myna, Scissirostrum dubium
Golden-crested myna, Ampeliceps coronatus
Common hill myna, Gracula religiosa
Southern hill myna, Gracula indica
Enggano hill myna, Gracula enganensis
Nias hill myna, Gracula robusta
Sri Lanka hill myna, Gracula ptilogenys
"True" mynas
Great myna, Acridotheres grandis
Crested myna, Acridotheres cristatellus
Javan myna, Acridotheres javanicus
Pale-bellied myna, Acridotheres cinereus
Jungle myna, Acridotheres fuscus
Collared myna, Acridotheres albocinctus
Bank myna, Acridotheres ginginianus
Common myna, Acridotheres tristis
Bali myna, Leucopsar rothschildi
"Gracupica" mynas
Indian pied myna, Gracupica contra
Siamese pied myna, Gracupica floweri
Javan pied myna, Gracupica jalla
The following species are often included in the Acridotheres mynas:
Vinous-breasted starling, Acridotheres burmannicus
Black-winged starling, Sturnus melanopterus
Red-billed starling, Sturnus sericeus
White-cheeked starling, Sturnus cineraceus
References
Sources
External links
Myna videos on the Internet Bird Collection
Recording of a Myna bird in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Sturnidae
Bird common names