Chapter 6 - HILL   MYNAHS

These birds, the size of a Pigeon, are of the Grackle Fam­ily. They are mostly shiny black, with an overlay of metallic purple and green on the back and rump. The wings have a white bar in the center. The bill is orange, and in mature in­dividuals the legs, wattles, and cheek patches of naked skin are deep yellow. Immature birds are very pale in these parts, with the wattles undeveloped. These are strong stocky birds for their size.

Several; races exist, all inhabiting southeast Asia and neighboring islands, with one race in the Philippines. The largest and also the best talker is the JAVAN HILL MYNAH (Gracula religiosa religiosa) of Malaya, Java and the Sunda Islands. This race is about twice the size of the Greater In­dian or of a common Pigeon, and has large head wattles.

Next in size, and an excellent talker is the GREATER INDIAN HILL MYNAH (Gracula religiosa intermedia), whose range is from Northern India to Cochin-China. This is by far the species most commonly imported for the fancier. Its size is about that of a common Pigeon and has a head wattle, al­though a cock of this species I owned didn't have this much developed. Hill Mynahs of this race have been used on Radio, Television and have been trained to talk for the movies. A pair, "Acee and Decee," owned by a well known corporation, have been taught to answer on cue and to each other by Mrs. Virginia Belmont, a well-known trainer of these birds. Mrs. Belmont takes them on exhibition tours to department stores and conventions where they really put on a show.

The other two races in India, differing in size and in head wattles, are the central race (Gracula religiosa peninsularis) of the Southeast Central Provinces, and the smallest of all, the LESSER INDIAN HILL MYNAH, also known as South­ern Indian and Malabar Hill Mynah (Gracula religiosa in-dica). This latter is only 2/3 the size of the Greater Indian (about that of a Dove), with large head wattles, and is not as good a talker although often imported. Its habitat in India is from Bombay, south to Cape Comorin and in Ceylon.

Two other nearby races exist in Tenasserim (Burma) and in the Andaman Islands. The PHILIPPINE or PALAWAN HILL MYNAH (Gracula religiosa palawanensis) is in the most easterly range of the species. It is found very commonly throughout the Palawan group of islands in the Philippines. It is a very good talker and 11 inches in length. Not often imported.

Two other larger races are found on groups of small islands. (Gracula r. robusta) Length 15 inches. Habitat: Islands of Nias, Babi, Tuangku and Bangkaru. The other is (Gracula r. batuensis) Length 13 inches. Habitat: Islands of Tambelan, Tello, Siberut, Sipora, Pagi, Tioman and Anamba.

Wherever their habitats are, these Hill Mynahs are wide­ly kept as talking cage birds.  The Malays call them Beo.  In Assam Province, India, the native boys called me Mynah Bap (father of the Mynahs), as I kept several as pets.

Left to right: Lesser Hill Mynah, Assam Greater Indian Hill Mynah, Javan Hill Mynah, showing comparative size of head and wattles. Note small triangular head of Lesser Hill Mynah with elephant-like lappets, Assam Greater Indian Hill Mynah with characteristic short, little developed lap­pets, Javan Hill Mynah with three times larger head and medium lappet development. Total lengths from beak to tail tip are: Lesser, nine inches; Assam, eleven inches; Javan, fifteen inches.

True pair of Assam Greater Indian Hill Mynahs showing broad breast of
six-year-old  cock,  left, and  slimmer  breast of seven-year-old hen,  right.
This variety may live thirty years.

In India, the Hill Mynah inhabits heavily forested hill tracts. They are not often seen around since they prefer the jungles. This has given the public the idea that they are rare birds, which they are not. They are more likely to be met up with as a native's pet. In Assam Province, Northwestern In­dia, Hill Mynahs frequented forested sections, and I would see several of them around a certain wild fruit tree, feeding at times with the beautiful Indian Oriole (Oriolus xanthornus). This species was the Greater Hill Mynah.

While visiting in Calcutta, I often went to visit the very large animal market there, having several talks with the dealer, Mr. Hussain, who exports Indian fauna all over the world, from an Elephant to a Strawberry Finch. The market extended for two square blocks, with rows upon rows of cages in the aisles and along the walls. Hill Mynahs were kept in two foot square crates and rather too many to a crate. They were all very young, and at the fledgling stage. Many required hand feeding. They learn to talk best when between 2 and 6 months old, also becoming very tame. The dealer fed Hill Mynahs and other young birds on "Gram Powder" moistened with water. "Gram" is a leguminous plant grown for food in India, the bean of which is ground to a powder.
In their southwestern range, cardamon and coffee plan­tations with their lofty evergreen shade trees form a perfect habitat for these birds. Pairs or flocks of 15 to 20 of the Less­er Hill Mynah are met with, feeding on ripe figs and other fruits in company of Hornbills, Green Fruit Pigeons and other frugivorus birds. The nectar of Coral, Silk Cotton and Silver Oak flowers is often eaten, and these birds are good pollin­ators for these trees. Their creaky shrieks can be heard in the forest, and their wings produce a whirring sound when in flight.

DISTINGUISHING THE SEXES

The sexes are alike in coloring, but can be differentiated by the males having longer bills,  tail and flight feathers, stronger whistles and deeper voice when talking. As in Can­aries, the cock's head is longer, broader, and not rounded as the hen's. The back and chest are also broader.

NESTING

Birds that are too tame usually don't make good breed­ers. In any species of birds, it is usually the wilder ones that reproduce themselves. Hill Mynahs are no exception. To breed them a 10 to 20 foot outdoor aviary including 4 foot shelter would be required. One corner of the shelter should have evergreen boughs or other dense growth. A box-type nest, 9 square inches, with a hole large enough for the birds to get in (3 inch diameter would be suitable), with a perch near the entrance. Hill Mynahs coming from the jungle, and being more of a pet than most tropical birds, require strict solitude. Since they like attention, the hen or cock will read­ily desert the nest if they see a human being approaching them. The more of a pet they are, the worse parents they will be. In their Asiatic habitats, the breeding season is from March to October. The nest, a collection of grass, leaves, feathers, etc., is placed in natural hollows 30 to 40 feet from the ground, in lofty trees often standing isolated in a forest clearing. The eggs, two or three in number, are a beautiful deep blue, sparsely spotted and blotched with reddish brown.

TRAINING TO TALK

Hill Mynahs are excellent mimics, and hen and cock are equal in talking ability. The hen has more of a falsetto, but a very clear voice. They are able to imitate all kinds of whist­ling, cough like an asthmatic old man, and cackle with womanish laughter. The same method in teaching them should be followed as is given in this first part of this book.

GENERAL   CARE

Hill Mynahs are usually very healthy, easy-to-keep birds. Where an importer will lose some percentage of small Finches in a shipment, when importing Hill Mynahs the loss is usu­ally nil. In winter, these birds are comfortable when kept in a room of 55 to 60 degrees, not lower. They can stand the hottest weather in Summer, India being very hot and humid from April to October.  Like all birds, they should never be in a draft, and because of their tender skin cheek patches and head wattles, should never be in an outdoor aviary in winter, where a Canary would be comfortable. Birds don't perspire any more than dogs do, so when feeling too warm or when excited about something strange or unusual, Hill My­nahs open their big mouth to pant.

BATHING

Hill Mynahs enjoy a bath given in a large pan, such as a large flower pot saucer of tepid water every day in warm weather, and only on bright sunny days during the winter.

A young Greater Indian Hill Mynah (Gracula r. intermedia).   When trained
between two and eight months old and hand raised. Hill Mynahs make
the most distinct talkers of all birds. Photo by William P. Short,
Detroit, Michigan.

They should be placed in the sun to preen and dry out. This type of bird loves sun bathing also. On a cool day, they will stretch their neck out sideways at an angle, and with wide open beak and glazed eyes, enjoy the benefit of the sun rays.

Being softbill birds with loose droppings, newspaper should line the cage bottom, with a sprinkling of sand, saw­dust or peat moss over it. Replace this every evening. When kept in a small cage, two one-inch diameter perches should be placed about two inches from the cage bottom, to keep the bird from getting tail and feet fouled from its own drop­pings, which are normally very moist. Even so, their drop­pings should be of a firm consistency. If too liquid, they are consuming too much fruit, which means trouble and a shorter life. By the way, I've heard of a Hill Mynah in California which is over 30 years old.

Although kept by some people in a smaller cage, the recommended size in a home, is a cage two feet square to allow for a little exercise. The larger cage you can give it the better. Any bird kept in captivity, should have a chance to do some flying to keep it lively and in good trim. In Sum­mer a large outdoor aviary is always preferable. Birds kept in small cages should be permitted some flying in the room every day for at least a half hour.

A pair of Hill Mynahs of the opposite sex get along well although if they are both confined in a small cage together during the breeding season, harm will befall the hen as the cock starts feeling his oats, and becomes very aggressive with the sex urge upon him. He will pin her down on the bottom of the cage and peck her viciously; hardly a way to treat a lady love. A pair are best kept together in a large pen, unless they are both young fledglings, when they may be kept in a small cage together. If Hill Mynahs are in an aviary with other species of birds, these birds should be of the same size or larger. Smaller companions would surely be killed or at least very much harassed, depending upon the smallness of the aviary.

The owner of a tame Hill Mynah should not (when perching it on his finger) place the bird near his face when talking to it as they will peck a nose, ear or eye. They should not be placed on one's shoulder either, as they let go with their droppings whenever the spirit moves them, which is often.

Hill Mynahs like to pull the sheets over themselves at night. That is, they will pull up the clean newspaper from the bottom of their cage at dusk and get under it, as they feel more secure. In a large enclosure, they may be tempted to use a box type nest with hay on the bottom for sleeping at night.

FEEDING

Hill Mynahs are omnivorous, that is they have a wide range of human food suitable to them. They do not eat seeds and rarely insects. Diet for them should be varied and bal­anced. The elements missing in one type of food may be present in another. Mynah droppings are normally moist, specially if they had been eating grapes or other fruits. It is not diarrhea. Boiled potato or rice and dog meal moistened with thin honeywater will make them firmer. Cut up fruit should be mixed in with dog meal, also boiled vegetables.

Suitable meals are any well-balanced commercial dog meal. Suitable foods for Mynahs are: boiled vegetables, ber­ries, cut up fruits, little raw hamburger. Orange is too messy to give to Mynahs. An apple or pear stuck on a perch holder every other day will give great enjoyment. If fresh greens are given, they should be chopped up fine and mixed with fruit. Whole wheat bread dipped in milk is beneficial, and most Mynahs like fresh or condensed milk. Give just enough daily to be cleaned up soon so that it doesn't lie around all day.

If available, a pinch of a feeding supplement (vitamin-mineral) powder may be added to their feed. Two drops of cod liver oil added twice a week is beneficial.

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