Sturnidae
八哥科
bā-gē kē

General

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The Sturnidae are divided into two groups in Chinese, roughly equivalent to the English division between starlings and mynas.

1. The Chinese name for the starlings, 椋鳥 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.

While the characters used are the same, however, the plant referred to by the character 椋 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 糙葉樹 cāoyè-shù. The Japanese 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.

Although the characters used in the name are the same, the bird's name thus has a different meaning in Chinese from Japanese.

While 椋鳥 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 鴝鵒 qúyù.

3. The Hill Myna or Southern Grackle (Gracula religiosa) goes by the distinctive name of 鷯哥 liáo-gē. There is also an alternative name, 秦吉了 qín-jí-liǎo, which is said to derive from the bird's origin in the qín region, i.e., Shaanxi province.

Species names

STURNINAE
SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH		CHINESE			JAPANESE		OTHER
Sturnus
Sturnus vulgaris	Common Starling or European Starling Purple-winged starling	(欧洲椋鸟) 歐洲椋鳥 ōuzhōu liáng-niǎo 'European dogwood-bird'	紫翅椋鸟 (紫翅椋鳥) zǐ-chì liáng-niǎo 'purple-winged 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)
Pastor
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
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) Not found in 12
Agropsar
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
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)	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'	Chim Sáo đá Á châu 'Asian rock starling (bird)' (12)
Agropsar philippensis Sturnus philippensis Sturnia philippensis	Chestnut-cheeked starling Violet-backed starling	(小椋鸟) 小椋鳥 xiǎo liáng-niǎo 'small dogwood-bird'	紫背椋鸟 (紫背椋鳥) zǐ-bèi liáng-niǎo 'purple-backed 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'	Numerous local names - See Hiraizumi	쇠찌르레기 soe-jjireuregi 'small starling'
Gracupica
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
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 (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
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 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' (introduced)	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' ' (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 (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
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)
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'	ハクトウオウ (白頭翁) hakutō-ō 'white-haired grandfather' Numerous local names - See Hiraizumi	찌르레기 jjireuregi 'starling'	Chim Sáo đá má trắng 'white-cheeked rock starling (bird)' (12, 13)
Acridotheres
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
Acridotheres tristis	Common myna Common myna House myna	(家八哥) 家八哥 jiā bā-gē 'house myna' (introduced)	家八哥 (家八哥) jiā bā-gē 'house myna'	(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)
Acridotheres fuscus	Jungle mynaIndian jungle myna	(林八哥) 林八哥 lín bā-gē 'forest myna' (introduced)	丛林八哥 (叢林八哥) cónglín bā-gē 'jungle myna' (4) 林八哥 (林八哥) lín bā-gē 'forest myna' (5) Taxonomy		モリハッカ (森八哥) mori hakka 'forest myna'
Acridotheres javanicus	White-vented myna Javan myna	(白尾八哥) 白尾八哥 bái-wéi bā-gē 'white-tailed myna' (introduced)	爪哇八哥 (爪哇八哥) bái-lǐng bā-gē 'white-collared myna' (4)		--
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)	ハハチョウ (叭叭鳥) haha-chō 'haha bird' カーレン (加令) kāren karen, probably from Chinese (Taiwanese subspecies) コキュウカンチョウ (小九官鳥) ko kyūkan-chō 'small nine-rank bird' (see Gracula religiosa)		Chim Sáo đen 'black starling (bird)' (12, 13) or Chim Sáo mỏ ngà 'ivory-billed starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34)
MAINATINAE
SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH		CHINESE			JAPANESE		OTHER
Aplonis
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
Aplonis panayensis	Asian glossy starling Asian glossy-starling Philippine glossy starling	(辉椋鸟) 輝椋鳥 huī liáng-niǎo 'shining dogwood-bird' (introduced)	亚洲辉椋鸟 (亞洲輝椋鳥) yàzhōu huī liáng-niǎo 'Asian shining dogwood-bird' (4) 辉椋鸟 (輝椋鳥) huī liáng-niǎo 'shining dogwood-bird' (5)		ミドリカラスモドキ (緑烏擬き) midori karasu-modoki 'green pseudo-crow'			Chim Sáo xanh 'blue/green starling (bird)' (12)

中国鸟类种和亚种分类名录大全（修订版） 郑作新 著 科学出版社 北京 2000年
A Complete Checklist of Species and Subspecies of the Chinese Birds (Revised Edition) by Cheng Tso-Hsin, Science Press, Beijing 2000

中国鸟类分类与分布名录 主编：郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2005年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of China Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2005

中国鸟类野外手册（中文版）约翰・马敬能、卡伦・菲利普斯，合作者：荷芬奇，翻译：卢和芬 湖南教育出版社 长沙 2000年
A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Chinese translation) by John MacKinnon, Karen Phillipps, in collaboration with He Fen-qi, translated by Lu Hefen, Hunan Jiaoyu Chubanshe (Hunan Educational Press) Changsha 2000

世界鸟类分类与分布名录 主编：郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2002年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of the World Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2002

世界鸟类名称（拉丁文、汉文、英文对照）第二版 郑作新等 科学出版社 北京 2002年
Birds of the World (Latin, Chinese and English Names) 2nd ed. by Cheng Tso-Hsin et al, Science Press, Beijing 2002

中国鸟类分布名录 第二版 郑作新 科学出版社 北京 1976年
(Checklist of the Classification of Birds of China 2nd edition by Cheng Tso-Hsin, Science Press, Beijing 1976)

香港及華南鳥類（第六版）（翻譯成中文及重新修訂） 尹璉、費嘉倫、林超英 香港性徵特區政府新聞處政府印務局 1994年
Birds of Hong Kong and South China (6th edition, translated into Chinese and newly revised) by Clive Viney, Karen Phillipps, Lin Chaoying, Hong Kong Govt. Press 1994

Danh Lục Chim Việt Nam (In lần thứ hai) (Checklist of the Birds of Vietnam) Võ Quý, Nguyễn Cử, Nhà Xuất Bản Nông Nghiệp, Hà Nội 1999

Chim Việt Nam Nguyễn Cử, Lê Trọng Trải, Karen Phillipps; Nhà Xuất Bản Lao Động - Xã Hội, 2000

Danh Lục Các Loài Chim ở Việt Nam (Latinh, Việt, Pháp, Hán) Trần Văn Chánh 2008-2009

Chinese Birds (A Tentative List of Chinese Birds) 中國鳥類（中國鳥類目錄試編） N. Gist Gee, Lacy I. Moffett, G. D. Wilder (祁天錫, 慕維德, 萬卓志), Peiping, 1927 (reprinted 1948)