Brahminy Mynah or Brahminy Starling
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The Brahminy Mynah or Brahminy Starling, Sturnus pagodarum, is a member of the starling family of birds. It is a resident breeder in eastern Afghanistan, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka. The bird is popularly known as a mynah (Salim Ali describes it as a "typical myna" in its behaviour and appearance, but recent taxonomic classification favours the Starling characterization. Locally the bird is known as Bamani myna (Bengal/Bihar), Kalasir myna (Hindi), Pabiyapawi (Hindi-UP), Harbola (Bengal), Popoya Myna, etc.
This passerine is typically found in dry forest and scrub jungle. The Brahminy Mynah builds a nest in hole. The normal clutch is 3-4 eggs.
The adults of these 21cm long birds have grey upperparts and reddish-orange underparts and black wing quills. The head has a black crown, nape and crest, and the underneath of the tail is white. The bill and the strong legs are bright yellow, and there are yellow wattles on the gape. The recumbent crest may be fluffed up. Young birds have crestless sooty brown head and dull general coloration.
The sexes are similar, but juveniles are duller, lack the crest, and have a brown crown.
Like most starlings, the Brahminy Starling is fairly omnivorous, eating fruit and insects.
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