m (Flight photo. Taxonomy & Habitat expanded. References) |
(info expanded, similar species, alternative names) |
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[Image:Crested_Myna.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Neil|Neil Fifer}} <br />[[Hong Kong]], November 2006]] | [[Image:Crested_Myna.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Neil|Neil Fifer}} <br />[[Hong Kong]], November 2006]] | ||
+ | '''Alternative names: Chinese Crested Myna; Chinese Jungle Myna; Tufted Myna; Chinese Starling''' | ||
;[[:Category:Acridotheres|Acridotheres]] cristatellus | ;[[:Category:Acridotheres|Acridotheres]] cristatellus | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
− | + | 25cm. A medium-sized, black myna. | |
− | + | * Plumage mostly black | |
+ | * Basal half of primaries white showing large white patch in flight | ||
+ | * Frontal crest | ||
+ | * Tail black with white tips | ||
+ | * Black undertail-coverts with white tips when plumage fresh | ||
+ | * Olive-yellow to yellow bill, reddish at base of lower mandible | ||
+ | * Yellow to orange eye | ||
+ | * Yellow to yellow-orange legs | ||
+ | Sexes similar. Juveniles are browner, have a smaller frontal crest and a bluish eye. | ||
+ | ====Similar species==== | ||
+ | [[Great Myna]] has white undertail-coverts and reddish-brown eyes, [[Javan Myna]] has white undertail-coverts, a smaller crest and a bright yellow bill. [[Jungle Myna]] is more greyish and has a bluish bill base. | ||
+ | [[Image:19005Crested Myna.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Karim+Madoya|Karim Madoya}}<br />Tuaran, [[Malaysia]], September 2006 ]] | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
− | [[China]], [[Taiwan]], | + | South and southeast [[China]], [[Taiwan]], [[Laos]] and [[Vietnam]]. Also recorded in eastern [[Burma]].<br /> |
− | + | Introduced in peninsular [[Malaysia]], [[Singapore]], northern [[Philippines]], northwest [[Borneo]], [[Japan]], [[Canada]] (around Vancouver), [[Argentina]] (Buenos Aires Province) and [[Portugal]] (Lisbon and Setubal).<br /> | |
− | + | Common to abundant in its range. | |
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
− | + | ====Subspecies==== | |
− | ====Subspecies | ||
There are 3 subspecies: | There are 3 subspecies: | ||
*''A. c. cristatellus'': | *''A. c. cristatellus'': | ||
− | :* | + | :* South-eastern and central [[China]]. Also recorded in eastern [[Burma]] but status there unclear. |
*''A. c. brevipennis'': | *''A. c. brevipennis'': | ||
− | :*Hainan (southern [[China]]) | + | :* Northern [[Indochina]] and Hainan (southern [[China]]) |
*''A. c. formosanus'': | *''A. c. formosanus'': | ||
− | :*[[Taiwan]] | + | :* [[Taiwan]] |
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
− | Urban parks, gardens and harbours. Paddyfields and lowland forest edges. | + | Urban parks, gardens and harbours. Paddyfields and lowland forest edges.<br /> |
− | + | Race ''formosanus'' is now a shy bird of the mountain forests. Its former range did include the lowlands but it has been displaced by the introduced [[Javan Myna]] (''Acridotheres javanicus'') | |
− | Race ''formosanus'' is now a shy bird of the mountain forests. Its former range did include the lowlands but it has been displaced by the introduced [[ | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
− | It is a colony nester which nests in cavities which the bird fills with sticks and vegetation. | + | Breeding season April to August. It is a colony nester which nests in cavities which the bird fills with sticks and vegetation. 4-7 glossy green blue eggs are laid and incubated by both sexes for 14 days; the young fledge 21 days later. |
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
The diet includes insects, fruit, grains, eggs and young birds. | The diet includes insects, fruit, grains, eggs and young birds. | ||
Line 31: | Line 41: | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#BF Member observations | #{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#BF Member observations | ||
− | # | + | #{{Ref-HBWVol14}} |
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Acridotheres+cristatellus}} | {{GSearch|Acridotheres+cristatellus}} | ||
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Acridotheres]] | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Acridotheres]] |
Revision as of 10:05, 19 December 2010
Alternative names: Chinese Crested Myna; Chinese Jungle Myna; Tufted Myna; Chinese Starling
- Acridotheres cristatellus
Identification
25cm. A medium-sized, black myna.
- Plumage mostly black
- Basal half of primaries white showing large white patch in flight
- Frontal crest
- Tail black with white tips
- Black undertail-coverts with white tips when plumage fresh
- Olive-yellow to yellow bill, reddish at base of lower mandible
- Yellow to orange eye
- Yellow to yellow-orange legs
Sexes similar. Juveniles are browner, have a smaller frontal crest and a bluish eye.
Similar species
Great Myna has white undertail-coverts and reddish-brown eyes, Javan Myna has white undertail-coverts, a smaller crest and a bright yellow bill. Jungle Myna is more greyish and has a bluish bill base.
Distribution
South and southeast China, Taiwan, Laos and Vietnam. Also recorded in eastern Burma.
Introduced in peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, northern Philippines, northwest Borneo, Japan, Canada (around Vancouver), Argentina (Buenos Aires Province) and Portugal (Lisbon and Setubal).
Common to abundant in its range.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 3 subspecies:
- A. c. cristatellus:
- A. c. brevipennis:
- A. c. formosanus:
Habitat
Urban parks, gardens and harbours. Paddyfields and lowland forest edges.
Race formosanus is now a shy bird of the mountain forests. Its former range did include the lowlands but it has been displaced by the introduced Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus)
Behaviour
Breeding
Breeding season April to August. It is a colony nester which nests in cavities which the bird fills with sticks and vegetation. 4-7 glossy green blue eggs are laid and incubated by both sexes for 14 days; the young fledge 21 days later.
Diet
The diet includes insects, fruit, grains, eggs and young birds.
Vocalisation
Call varied and can imitate other species and sounds.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- BF Member observations
- 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
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Crested Myna. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 28 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Crested_Myna