Asian Pied Starling/Pied Myna

Asian Pied Starling or Pied Myna, previously it had scientific name as Sturnus Contra, absolutely classified into Sturnidae. For the time being it is classified into the Genus of Gracupica and their name become Gracupica Contra. I do not know why they put this bird into that classification order.  But based on my opinion, this bird kind is close to Starling rather than to Myna.

Famously called Jalak Uret in Indonesia. They have black and white trimmed color over the whole body. Black head color, white chest, black tail, a little bit pink on creamy to grey leg, cream to yellow beaks with orange to red orbital skin. Some sub species may occurs regarding their local mutant habitat. The differential is only a little, such as additional red color in the beaks, or from other origin there were white colors above the beak in front of brow or eyes. This white feather's color had so many varies based on its origins.

The picture belows is taken from Wikipedia, shows the Asian Pied Starling for West Bengal, India Origin. See the detail, they had a little bit red color in their beaks and a little white color feathers in front of their eyes/above beaks.

It was the best one among 'Jalak' family. In the wild, they lived in the shallow trees forrest, paddy's field, near river/river banks, villages. Even in the past, when the people population is  not too rapid as today, they also live in the edge of small town in Java. They used to find worm,  snail or other insects in the rice fields, sometimes they became a good mate for bull, cow  or buffalo as they lived on the bull's back to take all mites and lice from their skin.

After big exploitation in late 60's to early 90's, they became rare in the wild in 90's. This condition is same as to what happened to Pycnonotus Zeylanicus that time. Fortunately, this  condition gave an oportunity to the breeders who could saw bright future and took the chance for trying to breed this bird kind. The result is, they have successfully breed them as the  commercial result also melting profits to them.

If you can find them now in the market, most of the Pied Myna wore ring on their leg. It shows that they are now the product of the breeders or farms. Only a little survived birds from the wild is traded today. It is a good sign, as they have a chance to be scored out from the mark of the red list member now.

This Picture is showing the Pied Starling from Java Origin. They had all black color cap, from base of beak to the end of cap, more lower black color on their chest.
If you try to feed them since they were baby with another adult birds collection you had, you better watch out as it is will resulting the Pied Myna with the songs copied from the birds you had. They are smart enough to reproduce the sound they heard everyday, especially if they are the youngster one.

In the early day I collect and take care songster birds, it was early 80's, the Pied Myna was the one of my favorite bird. It became the patron bird. Another function applied to this bird was the alarm to me. It was not a quiet bird, even in the middle of the night. Once they have a little bit hindrance to their sleep at night because of the person or other sound or light, crowdly they awaken. So, it is more safe to keep them as your live alarm, also protect from thieves. For this purpose, a lot of people in Java in the past put them in the house. Sounds like amazing thing, does it?