mynah

mynah
or myna

Any of several Asian songbird species of the starling family (Sturnidae).

The hill mynah (Gracula religiosa) of southern Asia, called the grackle in India, is about 10 in. (25 cm) long and glossy black with white wing patches, yellow wattles, and orange bill and legs. In the wild, it chuckles and shrieks; caged, it learns to imitate human speech far better than its chief rival, the gray parrot. The common, or Indian, mynah (Acridotheres tristis) was introduced into Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii. The crested mynah (A. cristatellus), native to China and Indonesia, was introduced into British Columbia, Canada, but has not spread.

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bird
also spelled  Myna,  
 any of a number of Asian birds of the family Sturnidae (order Passeriformes) of somewhat crowlike appearance. The hill mynah (Gracula religiosa) of southern Asia, called the grackle in India, is renowned as a “talker.” It is about 25 cm (10 inches) long, glossy black, with white wing patches, yellow wattles, and orangish bill and legs. In the wild it chuckles and shrieks; caged, it learns to imitate human speech far better than its chief rival in mimicry, the gray parrot. The common, or Indian, mynah (Acridotheres tristis) is about 20 cm long, black and brown, with white in the wings and tail, orange skin around the eyes, and heavy dark wattles; it has been introduced into Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii. The crested mynah (A. cristatellus) is black, with white wing patches and yellow legs and bill. Native to China and Indochina, the crested mynah was introduced into Vancouver Island, British Columbia, in 1900 but has not spread. For pied mynah, see starling.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • mynah — (also mynah bird) ► NOUN ▪ a southern Asian or Australasian starling with a loud call, some kinds of which can mimic human speech. ORIGIN Hindi …   English terms dictionary

  • mynah — (n.) type of passerine bird of India and the East, talking starling, 1769, from Hindi maina a starling, from Skt. madana delightful, joyful, related to madati it gladdens, lit. it bubbles, from PIE root *mad moist, wet (see MAST (Cf. mast) (n.2) …   Etymology dictionary

  • mynah — noun tropical Asian starlings • Syn: ↑myna, ↑mina, ↑minah, ↑myna bird, ↑mynah bird • Hypernyms: ↑starling • Hyponyms: ↑crested myna, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • mynah — myna my na, mynah my nah, n. [See {Mino bird}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of Asiatic starlings of the genera {Acridotheres}, {Sturnopastor}, {Sturnia}, {Gracula}, and allied genera. In habits they resemble the European starlings, and …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mynah — myna my na, mynah my nah, n. [See {Mino bird}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of Asiatic starlings of the genera {Acridotheres}, {Sturnopastor}, {Sturnia}, {Gracula}, and allied genera. In habits they resemble the European starlings, and …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mynah — or myna noun Etymology: Hindi & Urdu mainā hill mynah, from Sanskrit madana, a kind of bird Date: 1769 any of various Asian starlings (especially genera Acridotheres, Gracula, and Sturnus); especially a dark brown slightly crested bird (A.… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • mynah — [ mʌɪnə] (also mynah bird or myna) noun a southern Asian or Australasian starling with a loud call, some kinds of which can mimic human speech. [Gracula religiosa (hill mynah) and other species.] Origin C18: from Hindi mainā …   English new terms dictionary

  • mynah bird — UK [ˈmaɪnə ˌbɜː(r)d] / US [ˈmaɪnə ˌbɜrd] or myna bird UK / US noun [countable] Word forms mynah bird : singular mynah bird plural mynah birds a black bird that is often kept as a pet and can copy speech …   English dictionary

  • MYNAH Technologies — Infobox Company company name = MYNAH Technologies company type = Privately held company foundation = flagicon|United States Saint Louis (1985) location city = Saint Louis, Missouri location country = United States key people = Martin Berutti,… …   Wikipedia

  • mynah bird — noun tropical Asian starlings • Syn: ↑myna, ↑mynah, ↑mina, ↑minah, ↑myna bird • Hypernyms: ↑starling • Hyponyms: ↑crested myna, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

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