From Opus

Photo by joeyao
Upper Seletar Reservoir, Singapore, October 2004

Gracula religiosa

[edit] Identification

30cm (11.0 - 11.8 in). A large, black myna.

• Bare yellow patch below eye and line of bare yellow skin behind eye backwards around nape, extending into two pendulous wattles
• Mostly black plumage with some purple gloss and turquoise to bronzy sheen
• Black wing with white patch
• Brown eye
• Orange to red bill
• Chrome-yellow legs

Sexes similar. Juveniles are less glossy and have smaller wattles.

[edit] Distribution

Found from the Indian Subcontinent east over Burma to Indochina, southern China, Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Java and other islands of Indonesia.
Introduced populations in Florida, Puerto Rico and Hawaii. Other introductions failed, eg on Christmas Islands. Also reported in Taiwan.
Common in parts of its range. Some subspecies have a very small range and are poorly studied.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies

Gracula religiosa has seven subspecies^[1]:

• G. r. religiosa

• Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Simeulue, Bangka, Borneo, Java, Bali, and Kangean and Bawean (Java Sea)

• G. r. batuensis

• Batu and Mentawi Is. (off west Sumatra)

• G. r. palawanensis

• Palawan, (Philippines)

• G. r. venerata

• Sumbawa to Alor (Lesser Sundas)

• G. r. intermedia

• North and northeast India, Myanmar, Thailand, Indochina, south Yunnan, Hainan (China)

• G. r. peninsularis

• East-central India (Orissa)

• G. r. andamanensis

• Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands

Southern Hill Myna, Nias Hill Myna and Enggano Hill Myna have formerly been included in this species.

[edit] Habitat

Woodland, evergreen or deciduous forest, forest edge, also disturbed areas (with some large trees remaining). Occurs from the lowlands up to the hills, locally up to 2000m on the Indian Subcontinent.

[edit] Behaviour

Usually seen in pairs or small groups.
A resident species. Some local movement may occur.

[edit] Diet

Feeds mainly on fruit and nectar. Takes sometimes also insects and other small animals (up to small lizards).

[edit] Breeding

Breeding season differs through range, may breed up to three times per year. A monogamous species.
The nest is made of small twigs, leaves and feathers and placed in a tree hole, usually at least 10m above the ground. May nest in association with other species like Vernal Hanging-Parrot. 2-3 light blue to blue-green eggs with brown to lavender spotting are laid; incubation by both sexes for 13–17 days; parental care by both adults; young fledge at 25–28 days; post-fledging care is minimal. Brood parasitism by Common Koel recorded.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
2. Gill, F and M Wright. 2008. Birds of the World: Recommended English Names. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ, USA. 2006. ISBN 9780691128276. Update (2008) downloaded from http://worldbirdnames.org/names.html.
3. 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

• List of references

[edit] External Links