Showing posts with label starlings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label starlings. Show all posts

The Pied Myna or Asian Pied Starling (Gracupica contra) கறுப்பு வெள்ளை மைனா அல்லது ஆசிய கருப்பு வெள்ளை நாகணவாய் Madipakkam Wetlands, Chennai

The Pied Myna or Asian Pied Starling (Gracupica contraகறுப்பு வெள்ளை மைனா

Asian pied starling (Gracupica contra) கறுப்பு வெள்ளை மைனா observed at Marshland of Lakshmi Nagar, Madipakkam, Chennai - 600 091 on 11-08-2020 (Photo Credits: U Elaya Perumal).

The Pied Myna or Asian Pied Starling (Gracupica contra) is a species (or possibly a species complex) of starling found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. They are usually found in small groups mainly on the plains and low foothills. They are often seen within cities and villages although they are not as bold as the common myna. They produce a range of calls made up of liquid notes. Several slight plumage variations exist in the populations and about five subspecies are named, but recent studies support upgrading the subspecies to three distinct species, one with 2 subspecies.

Asian pied starling (Gracupica contra) கறுப்பு வெள்ளை மைனா observed at Marshland of Lakshmi Nagar, Madipakkam, Chennai - 600 091 on 11-08-2020 (Photo Credits: U Elaya Perumal).

This sharply attired black-and-white starling has a pointed yellowish bill with an orange base. Note the bare, deep orange patch around its eye that contrasts with its white cheek. Seen in loose flocks close to human habitation feeding on human refuse. Garbage dumps, damp grazing lands, and well-watered parks are its favored haunts. Noisy with a variety of calls that includes mimicked sounds of other birds.


Asian pied starling (Gracupica contra) கறுப்பு வெள்ளை மைனா observed at Marshland of Lakshmi Nagar, Madipakkam, Chennai - 600 091 on 11-08-2020 (Photo Credits: U Elaya Perumal).


This myna is strikingly marked in black and white and has a yellowish bill with a reddish bill base. The bare skin around the eye is reddish. The upper body, throat, and breast are black while the cheek, lores, wing coverts, and rump are contrastingly white. The sexes are similar in plumage but young birds have dark brown in place of black. The subspecies vary slightly in plumage, the extent of streaking of the feathers, and in measurements.

The flight is slow and butterfly-like on round wings.

Asian pied starling (Gracupica contra) கறுப்பு வெள்ளை மைனா observed at Marshland of Lakshmi Nagar, Madipakkam, Chennai - 600 091 on 11-08-2020 (Photo Credits: U Elaya Perumal).

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Sturnidae

Genus: Gracupica

Species: G. contra

Binomial name: Gracupica contra (Linnaeus, 1758)

Asian pied starling (Gracupica contra) கறுப்பு வெள்ளை மைனா observed at Marshland of Lakshmi Nagar, Madipakkam, Chennai - 600 091 on 11-08-2020 (Photo Credits: U Elaya Perumal).


To find this bird you can visit 8th street, Lakshmi Nagar, Madipakkam, Chennai - 600 091, in the early morning around 6 to 7 am. This bird could be seen every day during my early morning visit to Lakshminagar for Thuimai Iyakkam cleaning activities.

(Photo Credits: U Elaya Perumal).

(Photo Credits: U Elaya Perumal).

(Photo Credits: U Elaya Perumal).




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