Crested myna

Crested myna
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sturnidae
Genus: Acridotheres
Species:
A. cristatellus
Binomial name
Acridotheres cristatellus
Synonyms

Gracula cristatella Linnaeus, 1758

The crested myna (Acridotheres cristatellus), also known as the Chinese starling, is a species of starling in the genus Acridotheres native to southeastern China and Indochina.[2][3] It is named after the tuft of feathers on its forehead that resembles a crest.[3]

The crested myna is typically found in open spaces near urban and agricultural areas.[2][4] It is a popular cage bird and, as a result, has been accidentally released in a few places outside of its usual range.[2] For example, this species was introduced around 1890 into the Vancouver region of British Columbia.[2][3][4] It was initially successful, reaching a population in the thousands, however, it has since then gone locally extinct in the area.[2][5]

Like many starlings, the crested myna is omnivorous.[3] It will eat a variety of food including worms, grubs, grains, fruit, and even garbage.[3] It is a highly beneficial bird to farmers, as it feeds on insects and does not attack crops.[4]

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Acridotheres cristatellus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22710946A94269013. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22710946A94269013.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Feare, C., Craig, A., Croucher, B., Shields, C., Komolphalin, K. (1998). Starlings and Mynas. London: Christopher Helm Publisher Ltd. ISBN 9780691004969
  3. ^ a b c d e Scheffer, T.H. & Cottam C. (1935). "The Crested Myna, Or Chinese Starling, In The Pacific Northwest". Technical Bulletin. 476: 1–27. Archived from the original on 2019-11-23. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  4. ^ a b c Restall, R.L. (1968). "The Chinese Crested Mynah (Acridotheres cristatellus)". The Avicultural Magazine. 74 (1): 161–168.
  5. ^ Banks, Richard C.; Cicero, Carla; Dunn, Jon L.; Kratter, Andrew W.; Rasmussen, Pamela C.; Remsen, J. V.; Rising, James D. & Stotz, Douglas F. (2005). "Forty-Sixth Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-List of North American Birds". The Auk. 122 (3): 1026–1031. doi:10.1093/auk/122.3.1026. JSTOR 4090620.Open access icon