Malaysian Birds

88 PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae

Mynas

The common name of the bird is Myna. Spelled often with a "h" as Mynah. This is a bird from the Starling Family -Sturnidae. The term "Myna" is used widely for any bird that looks like Starling, irrespective whether they are from the same family or not. Mynas are fair size birds, i.e. passerines with strong feet, powerful flier and direct to their destination. Most species are gregarious and generally are an open country bird. They are in dark color and often with a tinge of brown.

Worldwide there are 114 species and in South East Asia, there are 23 species. Found naturally in south and eastern Asia. In many region, some Mynas were introduced species to these countries. The Common Myna with its habits and breeding rate is often regarded as a invasive species.

The Mynas could be divided into 3 types.
1. Jungle and Hill Mynas - as their common names imply
2. The "true" Mynas - as in White-vented Myna, Crested & Javan Myna
3. Those named as Starlings - as Vinous-breasted Starling, Asian-pied Starling etc.

Yet there is a another notable bird which has a name that sounds alike as the Myna Down Under. The Noisy Miner.

Both birds, the Common Myna and the Noisy Miner could be found in the same vicinity. The Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala is a nectar-feeding bird indigenous to Australia whereas the Common Myna is an introduced species.  Both birds are equally matched - almost the same size, are known for their aggression. The Noisy Miner extremely territorial when it comes to feeding and the Common Myna can attack other birds to get the best nesting holes.

Out of the 23 species found in South east Asia, here is a table which I adopted as benchmark list and showing showing the Mynas and Starling sighted in Malaysia on record. Noticed that the birds listed may not match precisely what I have included in this page. I am just listing what I have seen in my own way.

The topic of Myna cannot be complete without the mention of "Soft-billed" birds. No! nothing to do with soft or hooked bills that the caged birds have. Soft-billed is a loose term used by pet lovers and is synonymous with the soft diet the birds are are fed on. Irrespective of whether the birds is Frugivorous, carnivorous or Insectivorous.

The Hill Myna excel in this area for their excellent talking ability, but in general the Mynah Bird was once one of the most commonly kept softbills, but for some reason have lately become increasingly hard to find. Beside the Hill Myna who has the extraordinary ability to mimic, the rest of the Myna are no song bird. Their calls coarse but loud.

From the table above, the birds that I have featured on this page are those marked in orange color. As usual, I have used the master list from Bird Life International as a guide. Some birds included, the names of which do not appear on this list. Lastly, I am using another style of ID for the Mynas. Not by colors on the birds but more using the crest as the main diagnostic feature.
Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis
Golden-crested Myna Ampeliceps coronatus
Hill Myna Gracula religiosa
Great Myna Acridotheres grandis
Crested Myna Acridotheres cristatellus
Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
Vinous-breasted Starling Sturnus burmannicus
Purple-backed Starling/Daurian Starling Sturnus sturninus
Chestnut-cheeked Starling Sturnus philippensis
White-shouldered Starling Sturnus sinensis

Common Myna 1

Common Myna   2

Crested Myna 3

Crested Myna  4

Hill Myna   5

Hill Myna  6

Javan Myna   7

Javan Myna    8

Jumgle Myna    9

Jumgle Myna   10

White-vented Myna  11

White-vented Myna 12

White-vented Myna  13

88 PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae

Starlings
Starlings are open country birds that eats fruits and insect with  habit of using the bills to pry open the food source. They have strong feet and flight. Most species that I have seen in Malaysia likes to live in habitats with humans.

They nest in holes and most species are in dark and metallic colors. A couple of facts about Starlings. They were said to have diverse and complex vocalizations.  This can be seen exhibited by our Hill Mynas. As for most other Starling, their calls are simple single or two shrills notes then a series of low whispering murmurs.

Next would be the special characteristic of Starling. They are social birds living in large family and some species are associated with flock behavior called murmuration. This phenomenon of grouping and flying as a flock were what we see as large black clouds doing acrobatic in the air on TV. . Flocking starlings are one of nature’s most extraordinary sights. The flock need not be from one species, among them could be other species of Starling and also other species of the family group. The science of Murmuration was studied and found that it is basically created by the behavior of the bird's "Do what you neighbor do!". In Malaysia, we do get to see that million of birds together but the show of darting about is displayed by the visiting Purple-backed Starlings with flocks of over a few hundred birds.

 Then this habit of other habit of grouping together on a tree is most evident at the time roosting, also by the Purple-backed Starling. The get-together is more clear in the non-breeding season.

There are both resident and migratory species
Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis
Golden-crested Myna Ampeliceps coronatus
Hill Myna Gracula religiosa
Great Myna Acridotheres grandis
Crested Myna Acridotheres cristatellus
Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
Vinous-breasted Starling Sturnus burmannicus
Purple-backed Starling/Daurian Starling Sturnus sturninus
Chestnut-cheeked Starling Sturnus philippensis
White-shouldered Starling Sturnus sinensis

Black-collared Starling  1

Black-collared Starling  2

Black-collared Starling  3

Brahminy Starling  1

Brahminy Starling  2

Chestnut-cheeked Starling  1

Chestnut-cheeked Starling  2

Chestnut-tailed Starling  1

Chestnut-tailed Starling  2

European Starling  1

European Starling  2

Red-billed Starling  1

Red-billed Starling  2

White-shouldered Starling  1

White-shouldered Starling  2

White-shouldered Starling  3

Asian Pied-Starling  1

Asian Pied-Starling  2

Asian Pied-Starling  3

Daurian Starling  1

Daurian Starling  1

Daurian Starling  1

Rosy Starling  1

Rosy Starling  2

 

 

With Will would Wander