Myna
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Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sturnidae

[Photo] Bali Myna (Leucopsar rothschildi). Date: 6 July 2003. Photo by Jcwf. URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bali_myna.jpg

The mynas (also spelled mynahs) are birds of the starling family (Sturnidae). This is a group of passerine birds which occur naturally only in southern and eastern Asia. Several species have been introduced to areas like North America, Australia and New Zealand, especially the Common Myna which is often regarded as an invasive species.

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. Several species live around habitation, and are effectively omnivores.

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.

Mynas are not a natural group (Zuccon et al. 2006); instead, they are a term used for any starling in India and surrounding areas, 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 nearly extinct in the wild is highly distinctive.

Species are listed below. 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
Hill Myna, Gracula religiosa
Southern Hill Myna, Gracula indica
Enggano Myna, Gracula enganensis
Nias Myna, Gracula robusta
Sri Lanka Myna, Gracula ptilogenys

"True" mynas

White-vented 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

The following species are often included in the Acridotheres mynas:

Vinous-breasted Starling, Acridotheres burmannicus
Asian Pied Starling, Sturnus contra
Black-winged Starling, Sturnus melanopterus
Red-billed Starling, Sturnus sericeus
White-cheeked Starling, Sturnus cineraceus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myna

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