The southern hill myna (Gracula indica) is a member of the starling family.

The French word for the bird mainate is probably derived from the Indo-Portuguese mainato, from the name of a songbird living near water, and is probably a metaphor since it refers to a man whose job is to wash the clothes of others.

The southern hill myna is present in southwestern India and Sri Lanka.

[3] It is usually found high in the canopy, moving in large noisy groups of about half a dozen, in treetops at the edge of the forest.

[4] The hill myna is considered to be one of the best talking birds, often imitating human sounds and voice, better than parrots.