It is an endemic resident of Nias and other nearby islands off western Sumatra.

It has bright orange-yellow patches of naked skin and large fleshy yellow wattles on the side of its head and nape.

Like most starlings, the Nias hill myna is fairly omnivorous, eating fruit, nectar and insects.

This bird is famous for its talking abilities and fetches a high price.

It is under pressure from trapping for the illegal pet trade and from habitat destruction, since most indigenous forest has been destroyed.