Posted by Bill Pranty on February 19, 2004 at 16:27:21:
In Reply to: What's the Dif?? posted by Jeff Weber on February 19, 2004 at 08:42:38:
Hi Jeff,
I agree that the two mynas ae quite distinct, but as this list proves, people do confuse the two.
Perhaps part of the problem lies in that some field guides (including Peterson's latest [= last] eastern guide, 2002) do not illustrate Common Myna. But birders see Commom Mynas and recognize them as mynas. If they reference a Peterson guide, they may be convinced that the birds are Hill Mynas because that's the only myna that Peterson listed. Peterson compounds the problem by only illustrating the head of a Hill Myna, and by not presenting any information about Hill Mynas (e.g., "primarily arboreal").
The NGS (third edition, anyway) and Sibley guides illustrate both species, but neither mentions the distinctive arboreal vs. terrestrial substrate differences. Sibley doesn't help matters by drawing each myna peched on a stick!
Best regards,
Bill Pranty
Avon Park, Florida