Gracula robusta
The Nias hill myna (Gracula robusta), or beo nias, is the largest hill myna, endemic to Nias, North Sumatra's identity animal, and Critically Endangered.
PANDUANHEWAN · INDONESIA
Nias hill myna vs Common hill myna: the differences
How do the Nias hill myna (Gracula robusta) and Common hill myna (Gracula religiosa) differ? Classification, features, range, diet, size, IUCN status and legal protection, from cited sources.
The Nias hill myna (Gracula robusta) and the common hill myna (Gracula religiosa) are different species in the same genus, Gracula. Range in Indonesia — the Nias hill myna: Nias and nearby small islands, including the Banyak Islands (North Sumatra and Aceh); the common hill myna: Sumatra, Borneo, Java and Bali, including Enggano Island (now hard to find in the wild on Java and Bali).
Gracula religiosa
The common hill myna (Gracula religiosa) is a glossy black myna with yellow wattles, famous for its ability to mimic human speech.
Nias hill myna and Common hill myna compared
| Aspect | Nias hill myna | Common hill myna |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Gracula robusta | Gracula religiosa |
| Indonesian name | Beo nias | Beo |
| Class | Aves | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes | Passeriformes |
| Family | Sturnidae | Sturnidae |
| Range in Indonesia | Nias and nearby small islands, including the Banyak Islands (North Sumatra and Aceh) | Sumatra, Borneo, Java and Bali, including Enggano Island (now hard to find in the wild on Java and Bali) |
| Endemic to Indonesia | Yes | No |
| Key features | Largest hill myna, broad white wing patch, very loud voice | Glossy black, yellow wattles, orange bill |
| Diet | Fruit (mainly figs), nectar and insects, like other hill mynas | Mainly fruit, especially figs; also nectar and insects |
| Reproduction | laying eggs (oviparous) | laying eggs (oviparous) |
| IUCN status | Critically Endangered | Least Concern |
| Legal protection | Protected (Regulation P.106/2018) | Protected (Regulation P.106/2018) |
Every cell comes from the sourced data on each animal’s page; an empty cell means the data is not yet available, not that it is absent.
How to tell them apart
- Nias hill myna: Largest hill myna, broad white wing patch, very loud voice.
- Common hill myna: Glossy black, yellow wattles, orange bill.
Sources
- BirdLife DataZone — Nias Hill Myna Gracula robusta species factsheet ↗
- Ditjen KSDAE, Kementerian Kehutanan (2022) — Maskot Provinsi Sumut Dititip ke PPS Sibolangit ↗
- Kompas.id — Terancam Punah, Beo Nias Butuh Penangkaran (2018) ↗
- Universitas Gadjah Mada (Telaumbanua, 2005) — Studi Populasi dan Distribusi Spesies Burung Beo (Gracula religiosa robusta) di Kecamatan Lahusa dan Kecamatan Gomo (Nias) ↗
- Perpustakaan Kementerian Kehutanan — Kajian Konservasi Beo Nias (Gracula religiosa robusta) di Pulau Nias, Sumatera Utara (Konifera) ↗
- Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan) — Gracula religiosa (hill myna) ↗
- eBird (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) — Common Hill Myna (Nias), Gracula religiosa robusta ↗
- JDIH Kementerian Kehutanan — Permen LHK P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (PDF, dengan lampiran) ↗
- Vigie-Nature École (MNHN) ↗
- Oiseaux.net (AVONET/Birds of the World traits) ↗
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (GBIF) ↗
- BirdLife International DataZone — Common Hill Myna Gracula religiosa species factsheet ↗
- Mongabay Indonesia — Tiong Emas, Si Peniru Suara Manusia yang Ulung (2016) ↗
- Bird Society of Singapore, Birds of Singapore — Common Hill Myna ↗
- TRAFFIC — In the Market for Extinction: Eastern and Central Java (Chng & Eaton, 2016) ↗
- EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014, Ecology 95:2027), BirdFuncDat.txt ↗
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