Sturnidae

Sturnidae (starlings, glossy starlings, minas, mynas; class Aves, order Passeriformes) A family of medium-sized birds, most of which are black or dark in colour, many with a highly iridescent, purple, blue, green, and bronze gloss. Some have bare areas of skin and wattles on the face, and some are crested. They have straight, fairly slender bills, short and rounded to long and pointed wings, and most have short, square tails. They are highly gregarious and are arboreal to terrestrial, running well. They are good mimics and many, especially minas (mynas), are kept as cagebirds. They inhabit forests, open country, and urban areas, are omnivorous, and nest in holes in trees, banks, or buildings. Sturnus vulgaris (starling) has been introduced to N. America, S. Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Acridotheres tristis (common mina, or myna) has become semi-domesticated and has been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, and S. Africa. Aplonis (19 species) is the glossy starling, widely kept as a cage bird. There are about 25 genera, with 108–110 species, some migratory, found in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia, and Pacific islands.