Basilornis corythaix
The Long-crested Myna (*Basilornis corythaix*) is a strikingly elegant member of the starling family (Sturnidae), endemic to the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. This medium-sized passerine, typically around 25 cm (10 inches) in length, boasts a glossy black plumage that shimmers with iridescent blue-green hues under favorable light. Its most distinctive feature, and the source of its name, is a magnificent, flowing silvery-white crest that sweeps back from its forehead over the nape, often app...
This arboreal species primarily inhabits subtropical and tropical moist lowland forests, preferring undisturbed primary forest but also found in forest edges and mature secondary growth at elevations typically up to 1,600 meters.
Their diet is predominantly frugivorous, consuming a wide variety of forest fruits, supplemented by insects and other invertebrates gleaned from foliage or bark.
Long-crested Mynas are diurnal and primarily arboreal, spending most of their time high in the forest canopy. They forage actively, moving deliberately through the branches, often in pairs or small family groups. While specific detailed studies on their territoriality are limited, like many starl...
The Long-crested Myna is strictly endemic to the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, including the nearby satellite islands of Buton and Muna. Its distribution encompasses both the lowland and hill forests across the main island's various peninsulas. It is a resident species throughout its range, show...
Least Concern
- The Long-crested Myna's magnificent silvery-white crest can be raised and lowered, used not only for display but also possibly as a signal within its social groups. - Despite its striking appearance, it was only formally described to Western science in 1845. - Like many mynas, it possesses a sy...