Alternative names: Black-headed Mynah; Pagoda Myna
- Sturnia pagodarum
Temenuchus pagodarum, Sturnus pagodarum
Identification
20cm (7¾ in). A small starling with a long wispy crest.
- Grey upperparts
- Reddish-orange underparts
- Black crown, nape and crest
- White outertail, prominent in flight
- Yellow wattles, bill (with bright blue base) and legs
Sexes similar, males have a longer and blacker crest. Juveniles are much duller, have a sooty-brown head and lack the crest.
Distribution
Asia: found from northeast Afghanistan east over Pakistan, India to southern Nepal and rarely in Bangladesh. Non-breeding visitors in Sri Lanka.
Vagrants recorded in northeast India, Burma, Thailand, Singapore and China but these may also be escaped cagebirds.
Common in most of its range.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1] which is sometimes placed in the genus Temenuchus or alternatively in Sturnus.
Habitat
Dry forest, jungle and scrub. Also visits gardens. Prefers waterlogged areas. Found in lowlands and hills up to 1800m.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on insects, other invertebrates, fruit, berries, flowers and nectar.
Forages on the ground, often walking among cattle. Associates often with other species like Chestnut-tailed Starling, Indian Pied Starling, Common Myna or Jungle Myna.
Breeding
Breeding season mainly April to August. A monogamous, usually solitary species, sometimes in loose colonies. It nests in holes and 3-5 eggs are laid.
Movements
Mainly resident, birds from the northern part of the range (Afghanistan, Kashmir) migrate south.
Vocalisation
Recording © by Alok Tewari
Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India, 22 June 2017
Two birds calling in tandem, one close and the other a little distance away, giving a variety of calls. Calls by Large billed Crow and Eurasian Collared Dove can also be heard, in the BG.
Recording © by Alok Tewari
Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India, 11 January 2024
Thrush-like calls/ song given by one individual, foraging in a clearing; song of Yellow-footed Green Pigeon is also heard in the initial part of the recording.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
- AvianWeb
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Brahminy Starling. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 April 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Brahminy_Starling
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
