Gracula indica
The Southern Hill Myna, *Gracula indica*, is a strikingly iridescent passerine renowned for its vocal prowess. Measuring around 23-26 cm in length and weighing 120-150 grams, its plumage is a glossy, jet black with a purple-green sheen in good light, a hallmark of the sturnid family. Distinctive bright orange-yellow patches of fleshy skin, known as wattles, frame the eye and extend to the nape, typically forming a single, continuous band unique to the species. Its robust bill is bright orange...
This species primarily inhabits moist broadleaf deciduous and evergreen forests, forest edges, and cultivated areas with tall trees in hilly terrain, typically at elevations ranging from the lowlands up to about 2,000 meters.
The Southern Hill Myna is omnivorous, primarily feeding on a diverse range of ripe fruits, berries, and nectar, supplemented by large insects, spiders, and occasionally small lizards or nestlings. It forages primarily in the canopy of trees, gleaning food from foliage and branches.
Southern Hill Mynas are highly diurnal and arboreal, spending most of their active hours high in the forest canopy. They forage actively among the branches, often in pairs or small family groups of 3-5 individuals, sometimes joining mixed-species feeding flocks. These birds are territorial during...
The Southern Hill Myna (*Gracula indica*) is endemic to the Western Ghats and associated hill ranges of Peninsular India, and Sri Lanka, where it is a resident species. In India, its breeding range extends through the evergreen and moist deciduous forests of states such as Kerala, Karnataka, Tami...
Least Concern
- The Southern Hill Myna possesses one of the most sophisticated vocal repertoires in the avian world, capable of mimicking a wide array of sounds, including human speech, other bird calls, and even mechanical noises. - Its distinctive bright orange-yellow wattles are not just for show; they are ...