Mynas

The myna (; also spelled mynah) is a bird of the starling family (Sturnidae). This is a group of passerine birds which are native to southern Asia, especially India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. 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. It is often known as "Selarang" and "Teck Meng" in Malay and Chinese respectively in Singapore, having a high population there.

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

{{Commons category, Sturnidae

Myna videos
on the Internet Bird Collection

Recording of a Myna bird in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Sturnidae
Bird common names