
Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Gracupica contra
Diet
Grains, fruit, insects, earthworms and molluscs, usually from the ground; often feeds among cattle
Habitat
Mainly the plains and low foothills up to about 700m; often in cities and villages, in small groups
Range
Indian subcontinent
Clutch size
About 4–6 glossy blue eggs, laid a day apart
Incubation period
Hatch after 14–15 days
The Indian pied myna is a starling found in the Indian subcontinent, usually in small groups mainly on the plains and low foothills, up to about 700m. It is strikingly marked black and white, with a yellowish bill with a reddish base and reddish bare skin around the eye; the upper body, throat and breast are black, and the cheek, lores, wing coverts and rump are white. The sexes are similar, and young birds have dark brown in place of black (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is often seen in cities and villages, though not as bold as the common myna. It forages in fields, lawns and open ground, feeding on grains, fruit, insects, earthworms and molluscs, often among cattle, and calls with a wide repertoire of whistles, trills, buzzes, clicks and warbling. The usual clutch is about four to six glossy blue eggs, hatching after 14 to 15 days. The source read does not name Bhutan.