The Crested Mynah is a type of starling

The Crested Mynah is a type of starling. Often seen on my roof in Sai Kung, like a bunch of thugs with greasy haircuts and attitudes. A group of mynas is collectively known as a "local" or a "statutory".

Here this one is in the rain

These garrulous birds have wonderful, gregarious personalities and are much loved for their inimitable mimicry of human sounds. They are often seen in cages and kept as pets as Mynahs are easy to tame, and make lots of interesting mimicry.

• The Common myna was first described in 1766 by Carolus Linnaeus, Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist. Remember him? father of taxonomy?

• Mynas often scavenge the grass for insects, especially grasshoppers. This is how they have gained their genetic name Acridotheres or "grasshopper hunter".

• ‘mynah’ has been derived from the Sanskrit word ‘madana’, which draws its inspiration from the English word ‘bubbles’, indicating happiness.

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