Sturnidae
Họ Sáo

General

The following is based on analysis of dictionaries and other sources. Comments and corrections welcome. Malaysian names are now being updated. For consistency, Vietnamese bird names (except for ducks and chickens) are preceded by the word Chim meaning 'bird'. Ornithological lists mostly omit this as understood. Hover over Green Lettering Green lettering at this site hides a tool tip with glosses, further explanations, etc. Hover cursor to reveal. to see additional information.

All of the Sturnidae are closely related, and scientific and popular classifications have changed several times in recent years. Ornithological Vietnamese is somewhat exceptional in drawing no distinction between the starlings and mynas, with the prominent exception of two very well-known species.

1. Chim sáo is a general term in Vietnamese that covers all of the starlings and mynas excepting the Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa). It also covers well as similar-looking birds including some of the Zootherathrushes (Turdidae). (Some dictionaries also suggest that it is used for kingfishers and magpies.) Two names stand out within this group:

The Common Starling and the Southern Grackle are known as Chim sáo đá 'rock-starling (bird)'.

The light-coloured Black-collared Starling (S. nigricollis) has the unanalysable name of Chim sáo sậu.

2. The Black-collared Starling (Gracupica nigricollis), which is a familiar cage bird, has a further distinctive name, Chim cà cưỡng. Although this name is generally neglected by ornithologists, the existence of dialectal variation indicates that it is common and widespread in the vernacular.

3. The well-known Hill Myna or Southern Grackle (Gracula religiosa), which is the most common cage bird among the mynas, has its own special names, Chim yểng or Chim nhồng. The former is clearly a common areal name which is virtually identical with the Thai word for 'myna', เอี้ยง îaŋ.

Chữ Nôm

Characters used for sturnids in the now obsolete Chữ Nôm characters include:

Name	Chữ Nôm Images from the Vietnamese Nôm Preservation Foundation dictionary. (Errors are the sole responsibility of the author of this site)
Sáo	, , , , ,
Cưỡng
Yểng	,
Nhồng

Species names

STURNINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN		VIETNAMESE		EAST ASIAN		S. E. ASIAN
Sturnus
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Sturnus vulgaris	Common Starling or European Starling Purple-winged starling Etourneau sansonnet	Chim Sáo đá xanh 'blue/green rock starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34)	Chim Sáo đá 'stone-starling (bird)' (also applied to the Southern Grackle)	紫翅椋鸟 (紫翅椋鳥) zǐ-chì liáng-niǎo 'purple-winged dogwood-bird' Taiwan: (欧洲椋鸟) 歐洲椋鳥 ōuzhōu liáng-niǎo 'European dogwood-bird'	ホシムクドリ (星椋鳥) hoshi muku-dori 'starred muku-bird'	นกกิ้งโครงพันธุ์ยุโรป nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ pʰan yú-rôop 'European species starling (bird)'
Pastor
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Pastor roseus Sturnus roseus	Rosy starling Rose-coloured starling Etourneau roselin	Chim Sáo hồng 'rosy starling (bird)' (13)		粉红椋鸟 (粉紅椋鳥) fěn-hóng liáng-niǎo 'pink dogwood-bird' Taiwan: (粉红椋鸟) 粉紅椋鳥 fěn-hóng liáng-niǎo 'pink dogwood-bird'	バライロムクドリ (薔薇色椋鳥) bara-iro muku-dori 'rose-coloured muku-bird'	นกกิ้งโครงสีกุหลาบ nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ sĭi-kù-làap 'rose starling (bird)'	Burung Perling Hitam-Ros 'rosy (&) black starling (bird)' (27)
Agropsar
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Agropsar sturninus Sturnus sturninus Sturnia sturnina	Purple-backed starling or Daurian starling Etourneau de Daourie	Sturnia sturnina (34): Chim Sáo đá lưng đen 'black-backed rock starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34)		北椋鸟 (北椋鳥) běi liáng-niǎo 'northern dogwood-bird' Taiwan: (北椋鸟) 北椋鳥 běi liáng-niǎo 'northern dogwood-bird'	シベリアムクドリ (シベリア椋鳥) shiberia muku-dori 'Siberian muku-bird'	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)'
Gracupica
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Gracupica contra Sturnus contra	Asian pied starling Pied starling Etourneau pie	Chim Sáo đá Á châu 'Asian rock starling (bird)' (12)	Chim Sáo đá Châu Á 'Asian rock starling (bird)' (13)	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'	นกเอี้ยงด่าง nók îaŋ dàaŋ 'dotted myna (bird)'	-	Burung Jalak Suren 'mahogany starling (bird)' Name
Gracupica nigricollis Sturnus nigricollis	Black-collared starling Black-necked starling Etourneau à cou noir	Chim Sáo sậu 'sậu starling (bird)' (12, 13)	Gracupica nigricollis: Chim Sáo cỏ đen 'black-necked starling (bird)' (34) Chim Cà cưỡng 'cà cưỡng bird' (alt in 13) Chim Cưỡng 'cưỡng bird' (Northern dialects) Chim Cà cưởng 'cà cưởng bird' (Southern dialects) Chim Cà cượng 'cà cượng bird' (Central dialects)	黑领椋鸟 (黑領椋鳥) hēi-lǐng liáng-niǎo 'black-collared dogwood-bird' Taiwan: (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'	นกกิ้งโครงคอดำ nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ kʰoaa-dam 'black-necked starling (bird)'	Burung Perling Leher Hitam 'black-necked starling (bird)' (27)
Sturnia
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Sturnia sinensis Sturnus sinensis	White-shouldered starling Chinese starling Grey-backed starling Etourneau mandarin	Sturnia sinensis (34): Chim Sáo đá Trung Quốc 'Chinese rock starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34)	Chim Bạch đầu ông 'white-headed old-man bird' (cf Chinese name for Pycnonotus sinensis)	灰背椋鸟 (灰背椋鳥) huī-bèi liáng-niǎo 'grey-backed dogwood-bird' Taiwan: (灰背椋鸟) 灰背椋鳥 huī-bèi liáng-niǎo 'grey-backed dogwood-bird'	カラムクドリ (唐椋鳥) kara muku-dori 'Chinese muku-bird'	นกกิ้งโครงแกลบปีกขาว nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ klàeep pìik-kʰăaw 'white-winged lesser-starling (bird)'	Burung Perling Bahu Putih 'white-shouldered starling (bird)' (24, 26, 27)
Sturnia malabarica Sturnus malabaricus	Chestnut-tailed starling Ashy-headed starling Grey-headed starling Etourneau à tête grise	Chim Sáo đá đuôi hung 'reddish-tailed rock starling (bird)' (12)	Sturnia malabarica (34): Chim Sáo đá đầu xám 'grey-headed rock starling (bird)' (34)	灰头椋鸟 (灰頭椋鳥) huī-tóu liáng-niǎo 'grey-headed dogwood-bird' Taiwan: (灰头椋鸟) 灰頭椋鳥 huī-tóu liáng-niǎo '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'	นกกิ้งโครงแกลบหัวเทา nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ klàeep hŭa-tʰaw 'grey-headed lesser-starling (bird)'	Burung Perling Ekor Perang 'auburn-tailed starling (bird)' (27)
Spodiopsar
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Spodiopsar sericeus Sturnus sericeus	Red-billed starling Silky starling Etourneau soyeux	Chim Sáo đá đầu trắng 'white-headed rock starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34)		丝光椋鸟 (絲光椋鳥) sīguāng liáng-niǎo 'silk-light dogwood-bird' Taiwan: (丝光椋鸟) 絲光椋鳥 sīguāng liáng-niǎo 'silk-light dogwood-bird'	ギンムクドリ (銀椋鳥) gin muku-dori 'silver muku-bird'	นกกื้งโครงปากแดง nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ pàak-daeeŋ 'red-billed starling (bird)'
Spodiopsar cineraceus Sturnus cineraceus	White-cheeked starling Grey starling Ashy starling Etourneau gris	Chim Sáo đá má trắng 'white-cheeked rock starling (bird)' (12, 13)	Chim Sáo đá xám 'grey rock starling (bird)' (34)	灰椋鸟 (灰椋鳥) huī liáng-niǎo 'grey dogwood-bird' Taiwan: (灰椋鸟) 灰椋鳥 huī liáng-niǎo 'grey dogwood-bird'	ムクドリ (椋鳥) muku-dori 'muku-bird'	นกกิ้งโครงแก้มขาว nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ kâeem-kʰăaw 'white-cheeked starling (bird)'
Acridotheres
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Acridotheres tristis	Common myna Common myna House myna Martin triste	Chim Sáo nâu 'brown starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34)		家八哥 (家八哥) jiā bā-gē 'house myna' Taiwan: (家八哥) 家八哥 jiā bā-gē '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)	นกเอี้ยงสาริกา nók îaŋ săa-rí-kaa 'talkingbird myna (bird)'	Burung Tiong Gembala Kerbau 'waterbuffalo herdsman myna (bird)' (24, 26) Burung Tiong Rumah 'house myna (bird)' (27)
Acridotheres burmannicus Sturnus burmannicus	Vinous-breasted Myna Vinous-breasted Starling Jerdon's starling Etourneau vineux	Sturnus burmannicus: Chim Sáo sậu đầu trắng 'white-headed sậu starling (bird)' (12)	Chim Sáo sậu ngực đỏ 'red-breasted sậu starling (bird)' (34)	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'	นกกิ้งโครงหัวสีนวล nók kîŋ-kʰrooŋ hŭa-sĭi-nuan 'pale-headed starling (bird)'	Burung Tiong Dada Kelabu 'grey-breasted myna (bird)' (27)
Acridotheres grandis Taxonomy	Great myna White-vented myna Great myna Jungle myna Grand Martin	Acridotheres cinereus (13): Chim Sáo mỏ vàng 'yellow-billed starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34)		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	オオハッカ (大八哥) ō hakka 'large myna'	นกเอี้ยงหงอน nók îaŋ ŋŏaan 'crested myna (bird)'	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 cristatellus	Crested myna Chinese jungle myna Martin huppé	Chim Sáo đen 'black starling (bird)' (12, 13) or Chim Sáo mỏ ngà 'ivory-billed starling (bird)' (12, 13, 34)	Chim Sáo 'starling (bird)' Chim Sáo sậu 'sậu starling (bird)' (officially used for Sturnus nigricollis) Chim Cù cốc 'cù cốc bird' (from Chinese 鴝鵒 qúyù) Chim Cù dục 'cù dục bird' (from Chinese 鴝鵒 qúyù) Chim Cú cốc 'cú cốc bird' (from Chinese 鴝鵒 qúyù) (dialect) Chim Bát bát 'bát bát bird' (dialect) Chim Bát ca 'bát ca bird' (from Chinese 八哥 bā-gē?) (dialect) Chim Hàn cao 'hàn cao bird' (from Chinese 寒皋 hán-gào)(dialect)	八哥 (八哥) bā-gē 'myna' Taiwan: (八哥) 八哥 bā-gē 'myna'	ハッカチョウ (八哥鳥) hakka-chō 'myna bird' (from Chinese)	นกเอี้ยงหงอนก้นลาย nók îaŋ ŋŏaan kôn-laay 'stripe-vented crested myna (bird)'	Burung Tiong Jambul Cina 'Chinese crested myna (bird)' (26) Burung Tiong Cina 'Chinese myna (bird)' (24, 27) (introduced)
MAINATINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN		VIETNAMESE		EAST ASIAN		S. E. ASIAN
Gracula
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Gracula religiosa	Hill myna Southern grackle Grackle Indian grackle Mainate religieux	Chim Nhồng 'myna (bird)' (12, 13, 34) or Chim Yểng 'myna (bird)' (12, 13, 34)	Chim Sáo đá 'rock-thrush (bird)' (generally used for the Common Starling and the Hill myna)	鹩哥 (鷯哥) liáo-gē 'liaoge'	キュウカンチョウ (九官鳥) kyūkan-chō 'nine-rank bird'	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)'
Ampeliceps
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Ampeliceps coronatus	Golden-crested myna Gold-crested myna Martin couronné	Chim Sáo vàng 'yellow starling (bird)' (12)	Chim Sáo đầu vàng 'yellow-headed starling (bird)' (34)	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'	นกเอี้ยงหัวสีทอง nók îaŋ hŭa-sĭi-tʰoaaŋ 'gold-headed myna (bird)'	Burung Tiong Jambul Emas 'gold-crested myna (bird)' (24, 26) Burung Tiong Topeng Emas 'gold-masked myna (bird)' (27)
Aplonis
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Aplonis panayensis	Asian glossy starling Asian glossy-starling Philippine glossy starling Stourne bronzé Merle bronzé de Panay	Chim Sáo xanh 'blue/green starling (bird)' (12)		亚洲辉椋鸟 (亞洲輝椋鳥) yàzhōu huī liáng-niǎo 'Asian shining dog-wood bird' (4) 辉椋鸟 (輝椋鳥) huī liáng-niǎo 'shining dogwood-bird' (5) Taiwan: (辉椋鸟) 輝椋鳥 huī liáng-niǎo 'shining dogwood-bird' (introduced)	ミドリカラスモドキ (緑烏擬き) midori karasu-modoki 'green pseudo-crow'	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)'

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

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)

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