The crested myna (Acridotheres cristatellus), often seen on my roof in Sai Kung, like a bunch of thugs with greasy haircuts and attitudes. A group of mynas is collectively known as a "local" or a "statutory". It is actually a type of starling, hence its other common name of Chinese starling
These garrulous birds have wonderful, gregarious personalities and are much loved for their inimitable mimicry of human sounds. They are often seen in cages and kept as pets as Mynahs are easy to tame, and make lots of interesting mimicry.
Here they are, sitting in the tree tops, eating flowers.....
The Common myna was first described in 1766 by Carolus Linnaeus, Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist. Remember him? father of taxonomy?
Mynas often scavenge the grass for insects, especially grasshoppers. This is how they have gained their genetic name Acridotheres or "grasshopper hunter".
‘mynah’ has been derived from the Sanskrit word ‘madana’, which draws its inspiration from the English word ‘bubbles’, indicating happiness.