Hill Mynas

Size & diagnostic markings:- 34 cm. Those Hill Mynas seen in Peninsula is the larger sub-species Gracula r.r. It size is 34 cm, when compared to those seen further north e.g. in Thailand which is only 31 cm. Body color - The bird has a shinning black body all round. Head & Crown -is also uniformly black. Bill- also distinctive is the deep orange bill usually ending up with a yellow tip and is thicker than other sub-species. Eyes -dark grey with a surrounding patch.  Others - glossy black all round , with connected yellow wattles and ear coverts, and nape. Prominent white wing patch. Those wattles on the head are separate pieces but touching one another.

Distribution :- Traced to the foothill areas of Himalayas in North eastern India, Sri Langka  and the Greater Sundas.

Habitats & preferences:- This is a bird of the lowland forest and prefers bare trunks and branches at the canopy level. Then in places with human inhabitants, secondary forest where there are few tall trees. Here, in disturbed forest, the "canopy level" may also be low as 12-15 meters high.

This bird needs no further explanation, the orange patches on the side and behind its head, plus the intermittent loud calls. This is a well sort after bird by those who keep birds. Hill Myna is the top choice. Where ever the bird is detected, I am sure that poachers as waiting in line to have them trapped. These days, the bird is only heard in deep forest of very remote forest like those in Pahang.

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This bird is an established song bird and also good in mimicking. Very well sort after by bird keeper. Without strict enforcing, it has being hunted to near extinction.