|
The myna (also known as mynah) is a bird of the starling family (Sturnidae). This is a group of passerine birds which are native to southern Asia, especially India. Several species have been introduced to areas like North America, Australia, South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand, especially the common myna which is often regarded as an invasive species. Mynas are not a natural group (Zuccon ''et al.'' 2006); instead, the term ''myna'' is used for any starling in the Indian subcontinent, regardless of their relationships. This range was colonized twice during the evolution of starlings, first by rather ancestral starlings related to the coleto and ''Aplonis'' lineages, and millions of years later by birds related to the common starling and wattled starling's ancestors. These two groups of mynas can be distinguished in the more terrestrial adaptions of the latter, which usually also have less glossy plumage except on the heads and longer tails. The Bali myna which is nearly extinct in the wild is highly distinctive. Some mynas are considered talking birds, for their ability to reproduce sounds, including human speech, when in captivity. "Myna" is derived from the Hindi language mainā which itself is derived from Sanskrit madanā.〔 (myna ). CollinsDictionary.com. Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 11th Edition. Retrieved November 22, 2012. 〕〔New Oxford American Dictionary〕 ==Characteristics== Mynas are medium-sized passerines with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct, and they are gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark, often brown, although some species have yellow head ornaments. Most species nest in holes. Some species have become well known for their imitative skills; the common hill myna is one of these. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Myna」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|