Sturnidae
椋鸟科
liáng-niǎo kē

General

The following is based on analysis of dictionaries and other sources. Malay/Indonesian names are being revised. Comments and corrections are welcome.

The Sturnidae are divided into two groups in Chinese, roughly equivalent to the usual English division between starlings and mynas. All of the Sturnidae are closely related, and scientific and popular classifications have changed several times in recent years. In particular, the H&M4 subfamilies Sturninae and Mainatinae do not form a good correlation with the traditional names.

1. The Chinese name for the starlings, 椋鸟 liáng-niǎo, literally 'dogwood-bird', is a loanword from Japanese ムクドリ muku-dori ('muku bird', written 椋鳥). The name was borrowed as a written form, as Chinese characters, rather than as a spoken form. The name was introduced into ornithological Chinese via Zoological Nomenclature of 1923 and was firmly fixed in place by Birds of China (35) in 1927. A number of names from that list remain unchanged today.

While the character 椋 is the same, the plant referred to is different in Chinese and Japanese. In Japanese, 椋 refers to the muku tree (Aphananthe aspera; ムクノキ muku-no-ki, written 椋木), a tree known to the Chinese as 糙叶树 cāoyè-shù. The Japanese bird name is based on the fondness of Sturnus cineraceus (White-cheeked Starling) for the very sweet fruit of the muku tree. On the other hand, the character 椋 in Chinese, pronounced liáng, refers to Cornus macrophylla, a species of dogwood found in China. There does not appear to be any special relationship between starlings and dogwoods.

While 椋鸟 liáng-niǎo has taken over as the standard name for the starlings, the most common starling in China, Sturnus cineraceus (White-cheeked Starling), has a number of popular local Chinese names (see table).

2. By way of contrast, the name of the mynas originated in China and has been borrowed by the Japanese. The mynas are known as 八哥 bā-gē literally 'eight big-brother'. Unqualified, this refers to Acridotheres cristatellus, the Chinese Jungle Myna, which occurs widely over southern China. The name supposedly derives from white patches on the wings of this species, which look like the character 八 bā 'eight' when in flight. The name has been generalised as the Chinese name for the mynas and has also been borrowed into Japanese as ハッカ hakka (written 八哥). An older, more traditional or literary Chinese name for the mynas is 鸲鹆 qúyù.

3. The Hill Myna or Southern Grackle (Gracula religiosa), which is the most common cage bird among the mynas, goes by the distinctive name of 鹩哥 liáo-gē, where the second character means 'big brother', indicating a probable relationship with the name of Acridotheres cristellatus. There is an alternative name, 秦吉了 qín-jí-liǎo, which supposedly derives from the bird's origin in the qín region, i.e., Shaanxi province.

Species names

ABOUT THIS TABLE

STURNINAE
SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH		CHINESE			EAST		SOUTH	NORTH
Sturnus
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Sturnus vulgaris	Common Starling or European Starling Purple-winged starling	紫翅椋鸟 (紫翅椋鳥) zǐ-chì liáng-niǎo 'purple-winged dogwood-bird'	(欧洲椋鸟) 歐洲椋鳥 ōuzhōu liáng-niǎo 'European dogwood-bird'	欧椋鸟 (歐椋鳥) ōu liáng-niǎo 'European dogwood-bird' 欧洲八哥 (歐洲八哥) ōuzhōu bā-gē 'European myna' 亚洲椋鸟 (亞洲椋鳥) yà-zhōu liáng-niǎo 'Asian dogwood-bird' (35, from Zool. Nomen.) 紫翅椋鸟 (紫翅椋鳥) zǐ-chì liáng-niǎo 'purple-winged dogwood-bird' (early ornithological) (35)	ホシムクドリ (星椋鳥) hoshi muku-dori 'starred muku-bird'	흰점찌르레기 huin-jeom-jjireuregi 'white-spotted starling'	Chim Sáo đá xanh 'blue/green rock starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34)	Хар тодол ᠬᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ ᠲᠣᠳᠣᠯ khar todol 'black starling' Inner M: Толбот шарига ᠲᠣᠯᠪᠣᠲᠣ ᠱᠠᠷᠢᠭ᠎ᠠ tolbot sharig 'spotted starling' (31, 33) or Хүрэн далавчит шарига ᠬᠦᠷᠢᠨ ᠳᠠᠯᠠᠪᠴᠢᠲᠣ ᠱᠠᠷᠢᠭ᠎ᠠ khüreŋ dalavchit sharig 'darkbrown-winged starling' (alt in 33)
Pastor
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Pastor roseus Sturnus roseus	Rosy starling Rose-coloured starling	粉红椋鸟 (粉紅椋鳥) fěn-hóng liáng-niǎo 'pink dogwood-bird'	(粉红椋鸟) 粉紅椋鳥 fěn-hóng liáng-niǎo 'pink dogwood-bird'	粉红椋鸟 (粉紅椋鳥) fěn-hóng liáng-niǎo 'pink-winged dogwood-bird' ' (early ornithological) (35)	バライロムクドリ (薔薇色椋鳥) bara-iro muku-dori 'rose-coloured muku-bird'	분홍찌르레기 bunhong-jjireuregi 'pink starling'	Chim Sáo hồng 'rosy starling (bird)' (13)	Ягаан тодол ᠶᠠᠭᠠᠨ ᠲᠣᠳᠣᠯ yagaaŋ todol 'pink starling' Inner M: Ягаан шарига ᠶᠠᠭᠠᠨ ᠱᠠᠷᠢᠭ᠎ᠠ yagaaŋ sharig 'pink starling' (33)
Agropsar
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Agropsar sturninus Sturnus sturninus Sturnia sturnina	Purple-backed starling or Daurian starling	北椋鸟 (北椋鳥) běi liáng-niǎo 'northern dogwood-bird'	(北椋鸟) 北椋鳥 běi liáng-niǎo 'northern dogwood-bird'	道瑞恩小椋鸟 (道瑞恩小椋鳥) dào-ruì-ēn xiǎo liáng-niǎo 'Daurian small dogwood-bird' (early ornithological) (35) Other: 燕八哥 (燕八哥) yàn bāgē 'swallow myna'	シベリアムクドリ (シベリア椋鳥) shiberia muku-dori 'Siberian muku-bird'	북방쇠찌르레기 bukbang-soe-jjireuregi 'northern small starling'	Sturnia sturnina (34): Chim Sáo đá lưng đen 'black-backed rock starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34)	Sturnia sturnina: Хурган тодлой ᠬᠣᠷᠠᠭᠠᠨ ᠲᠣᠳᠣᠯᠠᠢ khurgaŋ todloi 'lamb starling (variant form)' Inner M: Умарт шарига ᠣᠮᠠᠷᠠᠲᠣ ᠱᠠᠷᠢᠭ᠎ᠠ umart sharig 'northern starling' (33) IM also: Умартын шарига ᠣᠮᠠᠷᠠᠭᠣ ᠵᠢᠨ ᠱᠠᠷᠢᠭ᠎ᠠ umartiŋ sharig 'northern starling' (31)
Agropsar philippensis Sturnus philippensis Sturnia philippensis	Chestnut-cheeked starling Violet-backed starling	紫背椋鸟 (紫背椋鳥) zǐ-bèi liáng-niǎo 'purple-backed dogwood-bird'	(小椋鸟) 小椋鳥 xiǎo liáng-niǎo 'small dogwood-bird'	黑脖椋鸟 (黑脖椋鳥) hēi-bó liáng-niǎo 'black-collared dogwood-bird' ' (early ornithological) (35)	コムクドリ (小椋鳥) ko muku-dori 'small muku-bird'	쇠찌르레기 soe-jjireuregi 'small starling'		Inner M: Бор нуруут шарига ᠪᠣᠷᠣ ᠨᠢᠷᠣᠭᠣᠲᠣ ᠱᠠᠷᠢᠭ᠎ᠠ bor nuruut sharig 'dun-backed starling' (33)
Gracupica
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Gracupica contra Sturnus contra	Asian pied starling Pied starling	斑椋鸟 (斑椋鳥) bān liáng-niǎo 'striped dogwood-bird'			ホオジロムクドリ (頬白椋鳥) hō-jiro muku-dori 'white-cheeked muku-bird'		Chim Sáo đá Á châu 'Asian rock starling (bird)' (12)
Gracupica nigricollis Sturnus nigricollis	Black-collared starling Black-necked starling	黑领椋鸟 (黑領椋鳥) hēi-lǐng liáng-niǎo 'black-collared dogwood-bird'	(黑领椋鸟) 黑領椋鳥 hēi-lǐng liáng-niǎo 'black-collared dogwood-bird'		クビワムクドリ (首輪椋鳥) kubi-wa muku-dori 'ring-necked muku-bird'		Chim Sáo sậu 'sậu starling (bird)' (12, 13)
Sturnia
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Sturnia sinensis Sturnus sinensis	White-shouldered starling Chinese starling Grey-backed starling	灰背椋鸟 (灰背椋鳥) huī-bèi liáng-niǎo 'grey-backed dogwood-bird'	(灰背椋鸟) 灰背椋鳥 huī-bèi liáng-niǎo 'grey-backed dogwood-bird'	Taiwan formerly: 噪林鸟 (噪林鳥) zào lín-niǎo 'noisy forest bird' 中国小椋鸟 (中國小椋鳥) zhōng-guó xiǎo liáng-niǎo 'Chinese small dogwood-bird' ' (early ornithological) (35)	カラムクドリ (唐椋鳥) kara muku-dori 'Chinese muku-bird'	잿빛쇠찌르레기 jaetbit-soe-jjireuregi 'ash-coloured small starling'	Sturnia sinensis (34): Chim Sáo đá Trung Quốc 'Chinese rock starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34)
Sturnia pagodarum Sturnus pagodarum Temenuchus pagodarum	Brahminy starling Black-headed starling	黑冠椋鸟 (黑冠椋鳥) hēi-guān liáng-niǎo 'black-crested dogwood-bird'			ズグロムクドリ (頭黒椋鳥) zu-guro muku-dori 'black-headed muku-bird'
Sturnia malabarica Sturnus malabaricus	Chestnut-tailed starling Ashy-headed starling Grey-headed starling	灰头椋鸟 (灰頭椋鳥) huī-tóu liáng-niǎo 'grey-headed dogwood-bird'	(灰头椋鸟) 灰頭椋鳥 huī-tóu liáng-niǎo 'grey-headed dogwood-bird' (introduced)	灰头椋鸟 (灰頭椋鳥) huī-tóu liáng-niǎo 'grey-headed dogwood-bird' ' (early ornithological) (35)	インドコムクドリ (インド小椋鳥) indo ko muku-dori 'Indian small muku-bird'		Chim Sáo đá đuôi hung 'reddish-tailed rock starling (bird)' (12)
Spodiopsar
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Spodiopsar sericeus Sturnus sericeus	Red-billed starling Silky starling	丝光椋鸟 (絲光椋鳥) sīguāng liáng-niǎo 'silk-light dogwood-bird'	(丝光椋鸟) 絲光椋鳥 sīguāng liáng-niǎo 'silk-light dogwood-bird'	丝毛椋鸟 (絲毛椋鳥) sī-máo liáng-niǎo 'silk-feathered dogwood-bird' ' (early ornithological) (35)	ギンムクドリ (銀椋鳥) gin muku-dori 'silver muku-bird'	붉은부리찌르레기 bulgeun-buri-jjireuregi 'red-billed starling'	Chim Sáo đá đầu trắng 'white-headed rock starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34)	Inner M: Алтан шарига ᠠᠯᠲᠠᠨ ᠱᠠᠷᠢᠭ᠎ᠠ altaŋ sharig 'gold starling' (33)
Spodiopsar cineraceus Sturnus cineraceus	White-cheeked starling Grey starling Ashy starling	灰椋鸟 (灰椋鳥) huī liáng-niǎo 'grey dogwood-bird'	(灰椋鸟) 灰椋鳥 huī liáng-niǎo 'grey dogwood-bird'	高梁头 (高粱頭) gāo liáng tóu 'gaoliang head' 管莲子 (管蓮子) guǎn-liánzi 'guanlianzi (pipe lotus?)' (southern) (35) 竹雀 (竹雀) zhú-què 'bamboo sparrow' 假画眉 (假畫眉) jiǎ huà-méi 'false hwamei' 杜丽雀 (杜麗雀) dù lì-què 'cuckoo? beautiful sparrow' 灰椋鸟 (灰椋鳥) huī liáng-niǎo 'grey dogwood-bird' (early ornithological) (35)	ムクドリ (椋鳥) muku-dori 'muku-bird'	찌르레기 jjireuregi 'starling'	Chim Sáo đá má trắng 'white-cheeked rock starling (bird)' (12, 13)	Бор тодол ᠪᠣᠷᠣ ᠲᠣᠳᠣᠯ bor todol 'dun starling' Inner M: Хөхөвтөр шарига ᠬᠦᠬᠡᠪᠲᠣᠦᠷ ᠱᠠᠷᠢᠭ᠎ᠠ khökövtör sharig 'bluish starling' (31, 33) or Бор шарига ᠪᠣᠷᠣ ᠱᠠᠷᠢᠭ᠎ᠠ bor sharig 'dun starling' (alt in 33)
Acridotheres
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Acridotheres tristis	Common myna Common myna House myna	家八哥 (家八哥) jiā bā-gē 'house myna'	(家八哥) 家八哥 jiā bā-gē 'house myna' (introduced)	平常八哥 (平常八哥) píng-cháng bā-gē 'ordinary myna' (general) (35)	カバイロハッカ (樺色八哥) kaba-iro hakka 'birch-coloured myna' (=reddish yellow/yellowish brown colour)		Chim Sáo nâu 'brown starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34)	Other: Харагч тодол ᠬᠠᠷᠠᠭᠴᠢ ᠲᠣᠳᠣᠯ kharagch todol 'wagtail myna'
Acridotheres burmannicus Sturnus burmannicus	Vinous-breasted Myna Vinous-breasted Starling Jerdon's starling	红嘴椋鸟 (紅嘴椋鳥) hóng-zuǐ liáng-niǎo 'red-billed dogwood-bird'			シロガシラムクドリ (白頭椋鳥) shiro-gashira muku-dori 'white-headed muku-bird'		Chim Sáo sậu đầu trắng 'white-headed sậu starling (bird)' (12)
Acridotheres albocinctus	Collared myna White-collared myna	白领八哥 (白領八哥) bái-lǐng bā-gē 'white-collared myna'		带领八哥 (帶領八哥) dài-lǐng bā-gē 'collared myna' (early ornithological) (35)	シロエリハッカ (白襟八哥) shiro-eri hakka 'white-collared myna'
Acridotheres grandis Taxonomy	Great myna White-vented myna Great myna Jungle myna	林八哥 (林八哥) lín bā-gē 'forest myna' (1, 2, 3, 4) 丛八哥 (叢八哥) cóng bā-gē 'jungle myna' (5) Taxonomy		暹罗八哥 (暹羅八哥) xiān-luó bā-gē 'Siamese myna' (early ornithological) (35)	オオハッカ (大八哥) ō hakka 'large myna'		Acridotheres cinereus (13): Chim Sáo mỏ vàng 'yellow-billed starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34)
Acridotheres cristatellus	Crested myna Chinese jungle myna	八哥 (八哥) bā-gē 'myna'	(八哥) 八哥 bā-gē 'myna'	鸲鹆 (鴝鵒) qúyù 'quyu' 牛背鹩 (牛背鷯) niú-bèi liáo 'ox-back liao' (cf liaoge) 鹦鹆 (鸚鵒) yīng-yù 'parrot myna' (35, from Zool. Nomen.) 寒皋 (寒皋) hán-gào 'cold riverbank' (literal meaning) 华华 (華華) huáhuá 'splendid splendid' (literal meaning) 八哥 (八哥) bā-gē 'myna' (general) (35)	ハッカチョウ (八哥鳥) hakka-chō 'myna bird' (from Chinese)		Chim Sáo đen 'black starling (bird)' (12, 13) or Chim Sáo mỏ ngà 'ivory-billed starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34)	Тольт хартотол ᠲᠣᠯᠢᠲᠣ ᠬᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ ᠲᠣᠳᠣᠯ tol't khartotol 'pretty black-starling' Inner M: Хар тоть ᠬᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ ᠲᠥᠲᠢ khar tot' 'black parrot' (31)
MAINATINAE
SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH		CHINESE			EAST		SOUTH	NORTH
Gracula
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Gracula religiosa	Hill myna Southern grackle Grackle Indian grackle	鹩哥 (鷯哥) liáo-gē 'liaoge'		秦吉了 (秦吉了) qín-jí-liǎo 'Qin jiliao' (qín area is Shaanxi prov.) 情急了 (情急了) qíng-jí- liǎo 'impatient' (folk etymology of the above?) 八哥 (八哥) bā-gē 'myna' 了哥 (了哥) liǎo-gē 'liaoge' (variation on liáo-gē) 九官鸟 (九官鳥) jiǔguān-niǎo 'nine-rank bird'	キュウカンチョウ (九官鳥) kyūkan-chō 'nine-rank bird'		Chim Nhồng 'myna (bird)' (12, 13, 34) or Chim Yểng 'myna (bird)' (12, 13, 34)	Inner M: Цэцэн тоть ᠴᠡᠴᠡᠨ ᠲᠣᠲᠢ tsetseŋ tot' 'smart parrot' (31)
Ampeliceps
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Ampeliceps coronatus	Golden-crested myna Gold-crested myna	金冠树八哥 (金冠樹八哥) jīn-guān shù bā-gē 'gold-crested tree myna'			キガシラムクドリ (黄頭椋鳥) ki-gashira muku-dori 'yellow-headed muku-bird'		Chim Sáo vàng 'yellow starling (bird)' (12)

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