Until recently only two species were recognised, G. religiosa and G. ptilogenys. Previously, all Gracula were considered to belong to a very variable species commonly called the hill myna. Three additional subspecies of G. religiosa are increasingly being considered as distinct species. Formerly, the Sri Lanka hill myna was considered to be a subspecies of the common hill myna, but today all major authorities recognise them as separate. Comparably, the Enggano, Nias, Tenggara, and southern hill mynas have traditionally been treated as subspecies of the common hill myna; a treatment still preferred by some authorities.
A 2020 study found that the subspecies G. religiosa miotera or Simeulue hill myna, which is endemic to Simeulue, Indonesia and has not been recognized in recent taxonomic arrangements aside from HBW (Handbook of the Birds of the World), also likely represents a distinct species and was likely driven to extinction in the wild in the late 2010s due to unsustainable collecting for the wildlife trade. The paper recommends rescuing the last genetically pure captive individuals for the purpose of captive breeding.[6]
Former speciesedit
Formerly, some authorities also considered the following species (or subspecies) as species within the genus Gracula:
These 25–30 cm (9.8–11.8 in) long birds have glossy black plumage and large white wing patches which are obvious in flight. The bill and strong legs are bright yellow or orange, and there are yellow wattles on the head, the shape and position of which vary with species. The sexes are similar, but juveniles have a duller bill.
Vocalisationsedit
Hill mynas are renowned for their ability to mimic the human voice. It has been claimed that the hill mynah is the best talking bird and the best mimic in the world.[7]
Distribution and habitatedit
This genus has representatives in tropical southern Asia from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia, and the common hill myna, a popular cage bird, has been introduced to the United States.
Behaviour and ecologyedit
Breedingedit
The hill mynas are resident breeders typically found in forest and cultivation. The nest is built in a hole and the usual clutch is two or three eggs.
Food and feedingedit
Like most starlings, the hill mynas are fairly omnivorous, eating fruit, nectar and insects.
Referencesedit
^Linnaeus, Carl (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1 (10th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 108.
^Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 176. ISBN978-1-4081-2501-4.
^Gray, George Robert (1840). A List of the Genera of Birds : with an Indication of the Typical Species of Each Genus. London: R. and J.E. Taylor. p. 39.
^Mayr, Ernst; Greenway, James C. Jr, eds. (1962). Check-list of birds of the world. Vol. 15. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 118.
^"IOC World Bird List 7.1". IOC World Bird List Datasets. doi:10.14344/ioc.ml.7.1.
^Ng, Dominic Y. J.; Švejcarová, Tereza; Sadanandan, Keren R.; Ferasyi, Teuku Reza; Lee, Jessica G. H.; Prawiradilaga, Dewi M.; Ouhel, Tomáš; Ng, Elize Y. X.; Rheindt, Frank E. (2021). "Genomic and morphological data help uncover extinction-in-progress of an unsustainably traded hill myna radiation". Ibis. 163 (1): 38–51. doi:10.1111/ibi.12839. ISSN 1474-919X.
^Butterfield, Kathy. . The AACC Homepage. Archived from the original on 2015-07-12. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
Grimmett, Richard; Inskipp, Carol; Inskipp, Tim (1999). Birds of India. Princeton University Press. ISBN0-691-04910-6.
Feare, Chris; Craig, Adrian (1999). Starlings and Mynas. Princeton University Press. ISBN0-7136-3961-X.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gracula.
January 01, 1970
gracula, hill, myna, redirects, here, aviculture, this, often, refers, common, hill, myna, religiosa, specifically, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced. Hill myna redirects here In aviculture this often refers to the common hill myna G religiosa specifically This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Gracula news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2021 Learn how and when to remove this message Gracula is a genus of mynas tropical members of the starling family of birds found in southern Asia and introduced to Florida in the United States Gracula Diversity and distribution within the genus Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Sturnidae Genus GraculaLinnaeus 1758 Type species Gracula religiosa common hill myna Linnaeus 1758 Diversity See text Synonyms Eulabes Contents 1 Taxonomy 1 1 Species 1 2 Former species 2 Description 2 1 Vocalisations 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Behaviour and ecology 4 1 Breeding 4 2 Food and feeding 5 References 6 External linksTaxonomy editThe genus Gracula was introduced in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae 1 The genus name is from Latin graculus an unknown bird sometimes identified as the western jackdaw 2 Of the seven species listed by Linnaeus George Gray designated the common hill myna Gracula religiosa as the type species 3 4 Until recently only two species were recognised G religiosa and G ptilogenys Previously all Gracula were considered to belong to a very variable species commonly called the hill myna Three additional subspecies of G religiosa are increasingly being considered as distinct species Formerly the Sri Lanka hill myna was considered to be a subspecies of the common hill myna but today all major authorities recognise them as separate Comparably the Enggano Nias Tenggara and southern hill mynas have traditionally been treated as subspecies of the common hill myna a treatment still preferred by some authorities Species edit Six extant species are recognized 5 Image Scientific name Common Name Distribution nbsp Gracula ptilogenys Sri Lanka hill myna Sri Lanka nbsp Gracula religiosa Common hill myna Nepal Sikkim Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh the lower Himalayas nbsp Gracula indica Southern hill myna southwest India and Sri Lanka Gracula venerata Tenggara hill myna Indonesia nbsp Gracula robusta Nias hill myna Nias and other nearby islands off western Sumatra Gracula enganensis Enggano hill myna Enggano Island off southwest Sumatra A 2020 study found that the subspecies G religiosa miotera or Simeulue hill myna which is endemic to Simeulue Indonesia and has not been recognized in recent taxonomic arrangements aside from HBW Handbook of the Birds of the World also likely represents a distinct species and was likely driven to extinction in the wild in the late 2010s due to unsustainable collecting for the wildlife trade The paper recommends rescuing the last genetically pure captive individuals for the purpose of captive breeding 6 Former species edit Formerly some authorities also considered the following species or subspecies as species within the genus Gracula Magpie lark as Gracula picata Description editThese 25 30 cm 9 8 11 8 in long birds have glossy black plumage and large white wing patches which are obvious in flight The bill and strong legs are bright yellow or orange and there are yellow wattles on the head the shape and position of which vary with species The sexes are similar but juveniles have a duller bill Vocalisations edit Hill mynas are renowned for their ability to mimic the human voice It has been claimed that the hill mynah is the best talking bird and the best mimic in the world 7 Distribution and habitat editThis genus has representatives in tropical southern Asia from India Bangladesh and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia and the common hill myna a popular cage bird has been introduced to the United States Behaviour and ecology editBreeding edit The hill mynas are resident breeders typically found in forest and cultivation The nest is built in a hole and the usual clutch is two or three eggs Food and feeding edit Like most starlings the hill mynas are fairly omnivorous eating fruit nectar and insects References edit Linnaeus Carl 1758 Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae secundum classes ordines genera species cum characteribus differentiis synonymis locis in Latin Vol 1 10th ed Holmiae Stockholm Laurentii Salvii p 108 Jobling James A 2010 The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names London Christopher Helm p 176 ISBN 978 1 4081 2501 4 Gray George Robert 1840 A List of the Genera of Birds with an Indication of the Typical Species of Each Genus London R and J E Taylor p 39 Mayr Ernst Greenway James C Jr eds 1962 Check list of birds of the world Vol 15 Cambridge Massachusetts Museum of Comparative Zoology p 118 IOC World Bird List 7 1 IOC World Bird List Datasets doi 10 14344 ioc ml 7 1 Ng Dominic Y J Svejcarova Tereza Sadanandan Keren R Ferasyi Teuku Reza Lee Jessica G H Prawiradilaga Dewi M Ouhel Tomas Ng Elize Y X Rheindt Frank E 2021 Genomic and morphological data help uncover extinction in progress of an unsustainably traded hill myna radiation Ibis 163 1 38 51 doi 10 1111 ibi 12839 ISSN 1474 919X Butterfield Kathy Owning a Mynah The AACC Homepage Archived from the original on 2015 07 12 Retrieved 2015 09 21 Grimmett Richard Inskipp Carol Inskipp Tim 1999 Birds of India Princeton University Press ISBN 0 691 04910 6 Feare Chris Craig Adrian 1999 Starlings and Mynas Princeton University Press ISBN 0 7136 3961 X External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gracula Russian page with identification drawings of hill myna taxa Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gracula amp oldid 1193506010, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
