The Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa) is a medium-sized passerine bird belonging to the Sturnidae family (starlings). It is native to the hilly and mountainous regions of South and Southeast Asia. Its dimensions are as follows:
Length: 25 to 35 cm (10 to 14 inches)
Weight: 142 to 269 grams (5 to 9.5 ounces)
This exotic bird is famous for its glossy black plumage with metallic sheens, vivid yellow-orange wattles (fleshy growths of bare skin) on its head and nape, and a powerful, brightly colored beak. The Hill Myna is particularly renowned for its intelligence and exceptional ability to mimic human speech and other sounds in captivity. It is primarily an arboreal and gregarious bird, very vocal and active during the day.
The Ornithologist's Advice
By the Les-Oiseaux.com team, published August 1, 2025.
My personal advice: The Hill Myna is a fascinating bird, primarily known for its incredible mimetic talents. If you have the chance to observe it in its natural habitat in Southeast Asia, or even in captivity, here's what makes it unique:
Striking yellow wattles: Its plumage is a deep, glossy black, but it's the large, vivid yellow-orange wattles (fleshy skin growths) around its eyes and on its nape that immediately distinguish it. They are very conspicuous and vary slightly between subspecies.
Unrivaled vocal repertoire: Aside from its own complex whistles and calls, it is a master of mimicry. Observe it carefully: in captivity, it can reproduce human words, phrases, and even environmental sounds with astonishing clarity. In the wild, it is very noisy and gregarious, often heard before it is seen.
Arboreal lifestyle: Look for it high in the trees of tropical forests. The Hill Myna is almost entirely arboreal and moves with distinctive agility through the foliage, hopping sideways on branches.
These characteristics, combined with its robust appearance and bright orange beak, make it an unforgettable species for any birdwatcher.
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Identification
Identifying the Hill Myna is relatively straightforward thanks to its distinctive features.
Adult plumage: Adults boast a deep, glossy black plumage, often with metallic purple, green, or turquoise iridescence visible in good light. The wings display large white patches on the primaries, very noticeable in flight but usually concealed when the bird is perched.
Head and beak: The head is adorned with prominent, fleshy, bare skin growths (wattles) of vivid yellow-orange, located on each side of the head and sometimes extending to the nape. The beak is strong, conical, and bright orange-red to vivid yellow, with a hooked tip. Its legs are strong and bright yellow.
Sexual dimorphism: There is no noticeable sexual dimorphism in the Hill Myna; males and females are visually identical.
Juvenile: Young mynas have duller, browner plumage, sometimes with white edges on the feathers giving a streaked effect. The beak and wattles are less developed and paler.
Scientific Dimensions and Records (Hill Myna)
Characteristic
Male
Female
Record / Average
Length
25 – 35 cm
25 – 35 cm
25 – 35 cm (adults)
Weight
142 – 269 g
142 – 269 g
142 – 269 g (adults)
Life Expectancy
Up to 30 years
Up to 30 years
15 to 30 years (in captivity)
These figures confirm the Hill Myna as a significantly sized passerine, known for its longevity in captivity.
Not to be confused with...
Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
The Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) is another member of the Sturnidae family. It is smaller and distinguished by its primarily brown plumage, black head, and a yellow mask around the eye, without the fleshy, extended wattles typical of the Hill Myna. Although it is also an imitator, its vocal abilities are less developed than those of the Hill Myna.
Song and Calls
The Hill Myna is a very vocal bird with an extremely varied and complex repertoire. Its natural vocalizations include a wide range of melodious whistles, shrill cries, guttural sounds, plaintive calls, croaks, and powerful notes. In the wild, it is often heard before it is seen, especially at dawn and dusk, when it is most noisy.
What makes it most famous is its extraordinary ability to mimic human speech and a multitude of other environmental sounds in captivity. However, in nature, it does not attempt to mimic other birds. Sounds are learned when young and can vary considerably from one region to another.
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Habitat and Distribution of the Hill Myna
The Hill Myna is native to South and Southeast Asian regions. Its range extends from India (including the Himalayan foothills) through Nepal, Bhutan, southern China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, to Palawan in the Philippines and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Introduced and established populations also exist in Florida, Hawaii, Japan, and Puerto Rico. It is primarily an arboreal bird that prefers dense humid forests, evergreen and humid deciduous forests, forest edges, clearings, and cultivated areas where large trees are present. It is generally found in hilly or mountainous regions, between 300 and 2000 meters (1,000 to 6,500 feet) in altitude, but can also be found at sea level in mangroves.
Distribution Map
Present year-round (Resident)
Breeding range (Nesting)
Wintering range (Non-breeding)
Passage area (Migration)
Diet
The Hill Myna is an omnivorous bird. Its diet mainly consists of ripe fruits (it is frugivorous), berries, flower buds, and nectar. It supplements this diet with insects, which it often gleans from trees or catches in flight (such as winged termites). Occasionally, it may feed on small vertebrates such as lizards or very small mammals, especially during the period when it needs to enrich regurgitations for its young. It has the particularity of not liking seeds, unlike many granivorous domestic birds such as the Zebra Finch and the Canary.
Reproduction
The breeding season for the Hill Myna varies depending on its location, but it generally occurs between April and August, influenced by rainfall. The pair builds its nest in natural tree cavities, often in a hole, which it lines with twigs, leaves, feathers, and kapok. The female usually lays 2 to 3 eggs, which are blue or pale green and speckled with brown. Incubation lasts between 12 and 17 days, during which both parents take turns incubating the eggs, although the female generally spends more time doing so. After hatching, the chicks are fed by both parents, who bring insects and sometimes small reptiles for protein intake. The young leave the nest and fledge after approximately 21 to 28 days (about a month), quickly becoming independent. A pair can have up to three successive broods per year.
Conservation Status
The Hill Myna is currently classified as "Least Concern" (LC) by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Its global population is considered stable overall. However, in some regions of its natural range, the species is becoming increasingly rare. Illegal trapping of wild birds for the pet trade represents a significant threat and has led to localized population declines. Habitat degradation of its forest environment is also a concern.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to identify the Hill Myna?
The Hill Myna is recognizable by its glossy black plumage with metallic sheens, its vivid yellow wattles (fleshy growths) on each side of the head and on the nape, as well as its bright orange beak. It also has large white wing patches visible in flight.
Where does the Hill Myna live?
Native to South and Southeast Asia, it primarily inhabits humid forests, forest edges, and plantations in hilly or mountainous regions. It is an arboreal bird.
What does the Hill Myna eat?
The Hill Myna is omnivorous, with its diet mainly consisting of fruits, berries, nectar, and insects. It may occasionally eat small reptiles or micromammals.
