Animalia Life
Gracula ptilogenys
SUBFAMILY
Sturninae
TAXONOMY
Gracula ptilogenys Blyth, 1846.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Ceylon myna, Sri Lanka hill myna, grackle; French:
Mainate de Ceylan; German: Dschungelatzel; Spanish: Mainб
de Ceilуn.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
9.1–9.8 in (23–25 cm). A small, stubby black myna with a white
stripe through the primaries, orange bill that is dark at the
base, yellow legs, and a bare yellow nape wattle.
DISTRIBUTION
Sri Lanka lowlands to 6,300 ft (1,920 m).
HABITAT
Moist forest; also, cultivated areas with trees.
BEHAVIOR
Gregarious and arboreal, rarely coming to the ground; typically
found in pairs in colonies; wings produce a loud humming
sound in flight; an excellent mimic of the human voice.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Diet mainly fruit, especially figs, and seeds.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Cavity nester, nesting February–May and sometimes in
August–September. Cavities sometimes used without nest materials,
but a nest of grasses and other materials is usual.
Clutch normally includes two Prussian-blue eggs mottled with
reddish brown. No information available on parental care.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Near Threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Nestlings often taken for the pet trade.
Photo Gallery of - Sri Lanka myna
