Definition

Noun 1. A tropical Asian starling: A mynah is a type of bird belonging to the starling family (Sturnidae), native to southern Asia. They are known for their dark, often glossy plumage, strong legs, and, in some species, an exceptional ability to mimic sounds and human speech.

Examples

• The mynah in the cage could perfectly imitate the sound of a ringing telephone.
• We saw a flock of common mynahs foraging on the grass.
• The hill mynah is particularly famous for its clear and loud vocal mimicry.

Advanced Usage

• "To have a memory like a mynah bird": This is a playful, non-standard idiom suggesting someone has a very good memory for sounds or words, alluding to the bird's mimicry skills.
  • He can remember every song after hearing it once; he has a memory like a mynah bird.

Variants and Related Words

• Myna: An alternative and equally common spelling for 'mynah'.
• Mynah bird: A common compound term used to specify the animal, though "mynah" alone is sufficient.
• Hill mynah (): A specific species renowned as one of the best talking birds.
• Common mynah (): A very widespread species, often found in urban areas.

Synonyms

• Starling: The general family name. (Note: All mynahs are starlings, but not all starlings are mynahs.)
• Mimic bird: A descriptive term highlighting its key characteristic.

Related Idioms

• "A little bird told me": While not specific to mynahs, this common idiom relates to the concept of birds as messengers or sources of information, a theme connected to the mynah's talking ability.
  • A little bird told me it's your birthday today.

Noun

1. tropical Asian starlings