mynah bird
Definition
- Noun:
- A tropical Asian starling: A mynah bird is a type of bird belonging to the starling family (Sturnidae), native to tropical regions of Asia. These birds are often known for their dark, glossy plumage, strong legs, and, in some species, an exceptional ability to mimic sounds and human speech.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The mynah bird in the cage could perfectly imitate the sound of a ringing telephone.
- We saw several mynah birds foraging for insects on the lawn.
- The hill mynah bird is particularly famous for its clear talking ability.
Advanced Usage
- "as talkative as a mynah bird": Used to describe a person who talks a lot or mimics others frequently.
- Ever since she learned the news, she's been as talkative as a mynah bird, telling everyone.
Variants and Related Words
- Myna (n): An alternative, more common spelling for 'mynah'.
- The common myna is an adaptable bird often found in urban areas.
- Mynah bird is itself a specific term; related terms include specific species names like hill mynah, common myna, or crested myna.
Synonyms
- Myna: The direct alternative spelling.
- Talking starling: A descriptive term highlighting its mimicry ability.
- Gracula religiosa: The scientific name for the hill mynah species known for speech mimicry.
Related Phrases
- To parrot: While not specific to mynahs, this phrasal verb meaning "to repeat or imitate mechanically" is conceptually related to the bird's famous skill.
- He doesn't understand the policy; he just parrots what his boss says.
Related Idioms
- A little bird told me: This common idiom about receiving information secretly is not specific to mynahs but relates to birds as messengers, a concept the talking mynah bird evokes.
- A little bird told me it's your birthday today.
Noun
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tropical Asian starlings
