BA Paneendra photographed a Southern Hill-myna (Gracula indica) atop the inflorescence of the African Tulip (Spathodea campanulata) tree in Bangalore, India. The Hill-myna was there to feed on the flower nectar.
![HillMynaC-AfricanTulip fl [BA Paneendra]](https://besgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/HillMynaC-AfricanTulip-fl-BA-Paneendra.jpg)
Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus) similarly visits the tree for the flower nectar LINK. Sometimes the flower leaves a golden collar of pollen grains on the myna, especially when the bird poked its head deep into the flowers for the nectar – see HERE.
BA Paneendra
Bangalore, India
21st November 2016
This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behavior through photography and videography to a wider audience.
3 Responses
The bird in the photo is not Gracula religiosa, but is Gracula indica, the Southern Hill Mynah. This species can be identified by the shape of the wattles, which arch upwards towards the crown, forming two distinct “U” shaped yellow marks on either side of the head.
In religiosa, the wattles do not curve upwards towards the crown.
All species in the genus Gracula command high prices in aviculture, with robusta, the Nias Island race, the most valuable. However, it is not easy to identify young Hill Mynahs when they are not fledged, which is when most of them are traded.
The most accurate method is by observing the placement of the wattles. I am convinced that the bird in the picture is indica.
Thanks Chiu San, corrected.
When there is a lot of money involved, even an Ah Beng bird trader learns how to identify species and sub species as well as the best ornithologist. And believe you me, the difference in prices between the various species of Gracula can range from $2,000 to $15,000.