General
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Modern Thai divides the Sturnidae: นกเอี้ยง nók îaŋ, typically equating to English 'myna', and นกกิ้งโครง nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ equating to 'starling', although these divisions are not exactly congruent in the two languages. All of the Sturnidae are closely related, and scientific and popular classifications have changed several times in recent years. The Thai names follow a different scientific taxonomic system from that used in H&M4. In particular, the subfamilies Sturninae and Mainatinae no longer form a good correlation with the traditional names in English or Thai.
1. Mynas: เอี้ยง îaŋ is an old areal word for 'myna' (compare Vietnamese yểng). The term นกเอี้ยง nók îaŋ in the Thai classification includes not only most mynas, but also Aplonis glossy-starlings and two starling species, Gracupica contra and Sturnia pagodarum. As in Malay, Myophonus whistling thrush (Turdidae) is also named in Thai as a kind of large starling or myna, นกเอี้ยงถ้ำ nók îaŋ tʰâm, literally 'cave myna (bird)'.
2. Starlings: The term for 'starling', นกกิ้งโครง nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ, was used for the genus Sturnus at the time, which was larger than the current genus. It covers a range of genera in the current classification: Sturnus, Pastor, Gracupica (one species), Spodiopsar, Acridotheres (one species), and Saroglossa.
The name นกกิ้งโครงแกลบ nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ klàeep 'lesser-starling' was assigned to the genus Sturnia (now covering Sturnia plus one species of Agropsar).
Although not used in species names here, คลิ้งโคลง kʰ(a)-líŋ-kʰlooŋ also means 'starling', and is probably an irregular dialect variant of the now usual name.
3. 'Talkingbird': Many very old Indic traditional stories feature differently named kinds of talking birds. It is often difficult to identify which species were originally meant, or indeed whether the birds were in reality capable of mimicking human speech. One such unidentifiable talkingbird name is usually written in Sanskrit as sārikā or śārikā, but additional variant spellings occur. Both were borrowed into Thai transliterated according to the different original spellings as สาริกา and ศาริกา, although both are pronounced identically as săa-rí-kaa. Another Thai variant, สาลิกา săa-lí-kaa, is also the preferred form in Lao. (The same name has been independently borrowed as Khmer [saareʔkaa] and Mon [sariˀka].)
In Thai this talkingbird name has come to be identified equally with Acridotheres tristis Common Myna and with magpies (Corvidae). Thai ornithological authorities have attempted to disambiguate these usages with limited effect. Popularly all three Thai talkingbird variants still have both meanings.
Most modern ornithological sources now use the นกสาลิกา nók săa-lí-kaa variant for Pica magpies, and hence generally as an equivalent to English 'magpie', including Cissa green magpies and Urocissa blue magpies.
For ornithological disambiguation, เอี้ยง îaŋ 'myna' has been added to the name of Acridotheres Common Myna. Two variants, นกเอี้ยงสาริกา nók îaŋ săa-rí-kaa and นกเอี้ยงสาลิกา nók îaŋ săa-lí-kaa, both 'talkingbird myna (bird)', have been used.
4. The Hill Myna (Southern Grackle), which is the most common cage bird among the mynas, is exceptionally known as นกขุนทอง nók kʰŭn-tʰoaaŋ 'Sir-Gold bird', a reference to the bright orange-yellow patches of naked skin and fleshy wattles on the side of its head and nape.
Species names
STURNINAE | ||||||||
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SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN |
THAI |
OTHER S. E. ASIAN |
EAST ASIAN |
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Sturnus | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Sturnus vulgaris |
Common Starling or European Starling Purple-winged starling |
นกกิ้งโครงพันธุ์ยุโรป nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ pʰan yú-rôop 'European species starling (bird)' |
Chim Sáo đá xanh 'blue/green rock starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34) |
紫翅椋鸟 (紫翅椋鳥) 'purple-winged dogwood-bird' Taiwan: (欧洲椋鸟) 歐洲椋鳥 'European dogwood-bird' |
ホシムクドリ (星椋鳥) hoshi muku-dori 'starred muku-bird' |
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Pastor | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Pastor roseus Sturnus roseus |
Rosy starling Rose-coloured starling |
นกกิ้งโครงสีกุหลาบ nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ sĭi-kù-làap 'rose starling (bird)' |
Burung Perling Hitam-Ros 'rosy (&) black starling (bird)' (27) |
Chim Sáo hồng 'rosy starling (bird)' (13) |
粉红椋鸟 (粉紅椋鳥) 'pink dogwood-bird' Taiwan: (粉红椋鸟) 粉紅椋鳥 'pink dogwood-bird' |
バライロムクドリ (薔薇色椋鳥) bara-iro muku-dori 'rose-coloured muku-bird' |
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Agropsar | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Agropsar sturninus Sturnus sturninus Sturnia sturnina |
Purple-backed starling or Daurian starling |
นกกิ้งโครงแกลบหลังม่วงดำ nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ klàeep lăŋ-mûaŋ-dam 'black-purple-backed lesser-starling (bird)' |
Burung Perling Belakang Ungu 'purple-backed starling (bird)' (24, 26, 27) |
Burung Jalak Cina 'Chinese starling (bird)' |
Sturnia sturnina (34): Chim Sáo đá lưng đen 'black-backed rock starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34) |
北椋鸟 (北椋鳥) 'northern dogwood-bird' Taiwan: (北椋鸟) 北椋鳥 'northern dogwood-bird' |
シベリアムクドリ (シベリア椋鳥) shiberia muku-dori 'Siberian muku-bird' |
|
Agropsar philippensis Sturnus philippensis Sturnia philippensis |
Chestnut-cheeked starling Violet-backed starling |
นกกิ้งโครงแกลบแก้มสีน้ำตาลแดง nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ klàeep kâeem-sĭi-nám-taan-daeeŋ 'red-brown-cheeked lesser-starling (bird)' |
Burung Perling Pipi Perang 'auburn-cheeked starling (bird)' (26, 27) |
Burung Jalak Filipina 'Philippine starling (bird)' |
紫背椋鸟 (紫背椋鳥) 'purple-backed dogwood-bird' Taiwan: (小椋鸟) 小椋鳥 'small dogwood-bird' |
コムクドリ (小椋鳥) ko muku-dori 'small muku-bird' |
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Gracupica | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Gracupica contra Sturnus contra |
Asian pied starling Pied starling |
นกเอี้ยงด่าง nók îaŋ dàaŋ 'dotted myna (bird)' |
Burung Jalak Suren 'mahogany starling (bird)' Name |
Chim Sáo đá Á châu 'Asian rock starling (bird)' (12) |
斑椋鸟 (斑椋鳥) 'striped dogwood-bird' |
ホオジロムクドリ (頬白椋鳥) hō-jiro muku-dori 'white-cheeked muku-bird' |
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Gracupica nigricollis Sturnus nigricollis |
Black-collared starling Black-necked starling |
นกกิ้งโครงคอดำ nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ kʰoaa-dam 'black-necked starling (bird)' |
Burung Perling Leher Hitam 'black-necked starling (bird)' (27) |
Chim Sáo sậu 'sậu starling (bird)' (12, 13) |
黑领椋鸟 (黑領椋鳥) 'black-collared dogwood-bird' Taiwan: (黑领椋鸟) 黑領椋鳥 'black-collared dogwood-bird' |
クビワムクドリ (首輪椋鳥) kubi-wa muku-dori 'ring-necked muku-bird' |
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Sturnia | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Sturnia sinensis Sturnus sinensis |
White-shouldered starling Chinese starling Grey-backed starling |
นกกิ้งโครงแกลบปีกขาว nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ klàeep pìik-kʰăaw 'white-winged lesser-starling (bird)' |
Burung Perling Bahu Putih 'white-shouldered starling (bird)' (24, 26, 27) |
Sturnia sinensis (34): Chim Sáo đá Trung Quốc 'Chinese rock starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34) |
灰背椋鸟 (灰背椋鳥) 'grey-backed dogwood-bird' Taiwan: (灰背椋鸟) 灰背椋鳥 'grey-backed dogwood-bird' |
カラムクドリ (唐椋鳥) kara muku-dori 'Chinese muku-bird' |
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Sturnia pagodarum Sturnus pagodarum Temenuchus pagodarum |
Brahminy starling Black-headed starling |
นกเอี้ยงพราหมณ์ nók îaŋ pʰraam 'Brahmin myna (bird)' |
Burung Perling Pagoda 'pagoda starling (bird)' (27) |
黑冠椋鸟 (黑冠椋鳥) 'black-crested dogwood-bird' |
ズグロムクドリ (頭黒椋鳥) zu-guro muku-dori 'black-headed muku-bird' |
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Sturnia malabarica Sturnus malabaricus |
Chestnut-tailed starling Ashy-headed starling Grey-headed starling |
นกกิ้งโครงแกลบหัวเทา nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ klàeep hŭa-tʰaw 'grey-headed lesser-starling (bird)' |
Burung Perling Ekor Perang 'auburn-tailed starling (bird)' (27) |
Chim Sáo đá đuôi hung 'reddish-tailed rock starling (bird)' (12) |
灰头椋鸟 (灰頭椋鳥) 'grey-headed dogwood-bird' Taiwan: (灰头椋鸟) 灰頭椋鳥 'grey-headed dogwood-bird' (introduced) |
インドコムクドリ (インド小椋鳥) indo ko muku-dori 'Indian small muku-bird' |
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Spodiopsar | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Spodiopsar sericeus Sturnus sericeus |
Red-billed starling Silky starling |
นกกื้งโครงปากแดง nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ pàak-daeeŋ 'red-billed starling (bird)' |
Chim Sáo đá đầu trắng 'white-headed rock starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34) |
丝光椋鸟 (絲光椋鳥) 'silk-light dogwood-bird' Taiwan: (丝光椋鸟) 絲光椋鳥 'silk-light dogwood-bird' |
ギンムクドリ (銀椋鳥) gin muku-dori 'silver muku-bird' |
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Spodiopsar cineraceus Sturnus cineraceus |
White-cheeked starling Grey starling Ashy starling |
นกกิ้งโครงแก้มขาว nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ kâeem-kʰăaw 'white-cheeked starling (bird)' |
นกกิ้งโครงสีเทา nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ sĭi-tʰaw 'grey starling (bird)' (alt in 21) |
Chim Sáo đá má trắng 'white-cheeked rock starling (bird)' (12, 13) |
灰椋鸟 (灰椋鳥) 'grey dogwood-bird' Taiwan: (灰椋鸟) 灰椋鳥 'grey dogwood-bird' |
ムクドリ (椋鳥) muku-dori 'muku-bird' |
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Acridotheres | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Acridotheres tristis |
Common myna Common myna House myna |
นกเอี้ยงสาริกา nók îaŋ săa-rí-kaa 'talkingbird myna (bird)' |
นกเอี้ยงสาลิกา nók îaŋ săa-lí-kaa 'talkingbird myna (bird)' (21) สาริกา săa-rí-kaa 'talkingbird ' ศาริกา săa-rí-kaa 'talkingbird ' สาลิกา săa-lí-kaa 'talkingbird' |
Burung Tiong Gembala Kerbau 'waterbuffalo herdsman myna (bird)' (24, 26) Burung Tiong Rumah 'house myna (bird)' (27) |
Chim Sáo nâu 'brown starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34) |
家八哥 (家八哥) 'house myna' Taiwan: (家八哥) 家八哥 'house myna' (introduced) |
カバイロハッカ (樺色八哥) kaba-iro hakka 'birch-coloured myna' (=reddish yellow/yellowish brown colour) |
|
Acridotheres burmannicus Sturnus burmannicus |
Vinous-breasted Myna Vinous-breasted Starling Jerdon's starling |
นกกิ้งโครงหัวสีนวล nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ hŭa-sĭi-nuan 'pale-headed starling (bird)' |
Burung Tiong Dada Kelabu 'grey-breasted myna (bird)' (27) |
Chim Sáo sậu đầu trắng 'white-headed sậu starling (bird)' (12) |
红嘴椋鸟 (紅嘴椋鳥) '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' |
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Acridotheres fuscus | Jungle myna Indian jungle myna |
นกเอี้ยงควาย nók îaŋ khwaay 'waterbuffalo myna (bird)' |
Burung Tiong Sawah 'wetfield myna (bird)' (26, 27) Burung Tiong Hutan 'forest myna (bird)' (24) Taxonomy (introduced) |
丛林八哥 (叢林八哥) 'jungle myna' (4) 林八哥 (林八哥) 'forest myna' (5) Note |
モリハッカ (森八哥) mori hakka 'forest myna' |
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Acridotheres grandis Taxonomy |
Great myna White-vented myna Great myna Jungle myna |
นกเอี้ยงหงอน nók îaŋ ŋŏaan 'crested myna (bird)' |
นกเอี้ยงดำ nók îaŋ dam 'black myna' (alt in 21) |
Burung Tiong Siam 'Siamese myna (bird)' (27) Acridotheres grandis: Burung Tiong Jambul 'crested myna (bird)' (24) Burung Tiong Jambul 'crested myna (bird)' (26) Acridotheres javanicus: Burung Tiong Jawa 'Javanese myna (bird)' (24, 27) |
Burung Kerak Kerbau 'waterbuffalo junglemyna (bird)' (onomat.) Burung Kerak Perut-pucat 'pale-bellied junglemyna (bird)' (onomat.) (introduced) |
Acridotheres cinereus (13): Chim Sáo mỏ vàng 'yellow-billed starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34) |
林八哥 (林八哥) 'forest myna' (1, 2, 3, 4) 丛八哥 (叢八哥) 'jungle myna' (5) Taxonomy |
オオハッカ (大八哥) ō hakka 'large myna' |
Acridotheres cristatellus |
Crested myna Chinese jungle myna |
นกเอี้ยงหงอนก้นลาย nók îaŋ ŋŏaan kôn-laay 'stripe-vented crested myna (bird)' |
นกเอี้ยงก้นลาย nók îaŋ kôn-laay 'stripe-vented myna (bird)' (21) |
Burung Tiong Jambul Cina 'Chinese crested myna (bird)' (26) Burung Tiong Cina 'Chinese myna (bird)' (24, 27) (introduced) |
Chim Sáo đen 'black starling (bird)' (12, 13) or Chim Sáo mỏ ngà 'ivory-billed starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34) |
八哥 (八哥) 'myna' Taiwan: (八哥) 八哥 'myna' |
ハッカチョウ (八哥鳥) hakka-chō 'myna bird' (from Chinese) |
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Saroglossa | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Saroglossa spiloptera Lamprotornis spilopterus |
Spot-winged starling | นกกิ้งโครงปีกลายจุด nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ pìik-laay-cùt 'spot-winged starling (bird)' |
斑翅八哥 (斑翅八哥) 'spot-winged myna' (4) 点翅八哥 (點斑八哥) 'dotted myna' (5) |
チャノドムクドリ (茶喉椋鳥) cha-nodo muku-dori 'brown-throated muku-bird' |
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MAINATINAE | ||||||||
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN |
THAI |
OTHER S. E. ASIAN |
EAST ASIAN |
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Gracula | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Gracula religiosa |
Hill myna Southern grackle Grackle Indian grackle |
นกขุนทอง nók kʰŭn-tʰoaaŋ 'Sir-Gold bird' |
Burung Tiong Emas 'gold myna (bird)' (26) Burung Tiong Mas 'gold myna (bird)' (24) Burung Tiong Besar 'large myna (bird)' (27) |
Burung Tiong Emas 'gold myna (bird)' |
Chim Nhồng 'myna (bird)' (12, 13, 34) or Chim Yểng 'myna (bird)' (12, 13, 34) |
鹩哥 (鷯哥) 'liaoge' |
キュウカンチョウ (九官鳥) kyūkan-chō 'nine-rank bird' |
|
Ampeliceps | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Ampeliceps coronatus | Golden-crested myna Gold-crested myna |
นกเอี้ยงหัวสีทอง nók îaŋ hŭa-sĭi-tʰoaaŋ 'gold-headed myna (bird)' |
นกสาลิกาลิ้นทอง nók săa-lí-kaa lín-tʰoaaŋ 'golden-tongued talkingbird ' (alt in 21) |
Burung Tiong Jambul Emas 'gold-crested myna (bird)' (24, 26) Burung Tiong Topeng Emas 'gold-masked myna (bird)' (27) |
Chim Sáo vàng 'yellow starling (bird)' (12) |
金冠树八哥 (金冠樹八哥) 'gold-crested tree myna' |
キガシラムクドリ (黄頭椋鳥) ki-gashira muku-dori 'yellow-headed muku-bird' |
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Aplonis | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Aplonis panayensis |
Asian glossy starling Asian glossy-starling Philippine glossy starling |
นกเอี้ยงดำปักษ์ใต้ nók îaŋ dam pàk-tây 'Southern region (= South Thailand) black myna (bird)' |
Burung Perling Mata Merah 'red-eyed starling (bird)' (24, 26, 27) |
Burung Perling Kumbang 'glisteningblack starling (bird)' |
Chim Sáo xanh 'blue/green starling (bird)' (12) |
亚洲辉椋鸟 (亞洲輝椋鳥) 'Asian shining starling' (4) 辉椋鸟 (輝椋鳥) 'shining dogwood-bird' (5) Taiwan: (辉椋鸟) 輝椋鳥 'shining dogwood-bird' (introduced) |
ミドリカラスモドキ (緑烏擬き) midori karasu-modoki 'green pseudo-crow' |
The characters 九官鳥 kyūkan-chō mean 'nine-rank bird'. The explanation is that the bird ranks after the eight Chinese bureaucratic ranks but ahead of ordinary commoners in intelligence.
八哥 bā-gē literally means 'eight big brother', which supposedly refers to white patches on the underside of the wings of Acridotheres cristatellus, the Chinese Jungle Myna, which resemble the character 八 bā 'eight' when the bird is 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 (八哥).
Sanskrit sārikā or śārikā 'talking bird' has been borrowed into Thai as สาริกา and ศาริกา, both săa-rí-kaa; and as สาลิกา săa-lí-kaa. Although the original Indic species identification is lost, Thai relates these names equally to magpies (Corvidae) and to Common Mynas (Sturnidae).
Perling is from the Old Malay-Indonesian name Perling meaning 'starling'.
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
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
นกในเมืองไทย รศ. โอภาส ขอบเขตต (Birds in Thailand, by Assoc. Prof. Obhas Khobkhet), in five volumes, Sarakadee Press, Bangkok, 1998-2001
Senarai Nama-nama Burung Semenanjung Malaysia dan Asia Tenggara by Ismail, Abdul Rahman, Perhilitan (Jabatam Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara, Semenanjung Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur 1981
(List of the Names of Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Southeast Asia by Ismail, Abdul Rahman, Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 1981)
The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula: Vol. 1 - Non-passerines by Wells, David R., Academic Press, London 1999
A Field Guide to the Birds of West Malaysia and Singapore by Jeyarajasingam, Allen and Alan Pearson, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1999
The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula: Vol. 2 - Passerines by Wells, David R., Christopher Helm, A&C Black, London 2007
Danh Lục Các Loài Chim ở Việt Nam (Latinh, Việt, Pháp, Hán) Trần Văn Chánh 2008-2009