In the west most people are probably not familiar with one of China's favorite birds, the BaGe (八哥), literally the “eight brothers” bird. In China this bird is known for it's intelligence and ability to talk. Usually older men will tote the birds around in cages for their own personal amusement while sitting outside talking to friends. Sometimes however, the birds are found to be saying peculiar things in the cities of China, as a result of being released by an owner, or possibly it is a self taught little genius.

The BaGe, also known as a Myna (with one of the most popular species being the Crested Myna), are a part of the starling family and as such build their nests in many readily available locations, including treetops, old magpie nests, holes in trees, cliffs and crevices in buildings. The location of the nest does seem to differentiate between the quality of the birds and their offspring's physical prowess, usually with the best birds building their nests in the most desirable location: tree tops. However, it is the birds that build their nests lower to the ground that have their children become captured (because it's easier) and put into cages to become pets. Of course, the lower to the ground the bird makes it's nest usually isn't a result of choice, but rather it's weakness being exploited by it's environment and other BaGe, so most pet owners are probably not getting the strongest or most intelligent specimens of the species. Even so, the birds remain favorites for their friendliness, resilience and intelligence.

In many popular bird pet species (like parrots) there is usually a preference to buy a male or female bird of a given species, because one talks better than the other or looks better than the other. Usually, the trend goes that one should own a male parrot if one is going to own a parrot. So the question is also naturally raised about the BaGe, is their any sexually dimorphism (physical/mental) between these little Chinese wonders? Well, yes, as the male is bigger than the female, with a notable size difference in the head, body and beak. The male also has much more distinct markings (and therefore more attractive to potential owners) than the female BaGe. Though both sexes can talk, the male is much more energetic and talkative, because that's what he does to attract a mate. It is much easier to teach a male BaGe new words and tricks, especially during mating season, because he will be paying special attention to learn a few new tips and tricks to try and lure the ladies.

To the seeker of a high pedigree BaGe, the markings, feathers, and coloration of the bird are all indicators of what the Chinese people consider to be a first class BaGe. Fiery red eyes, a whitish yellow beak and a thin tongue (for talking purposes) are just the beginning to having a top quality bird. The Chinese call the white markings of the BaGe the “WuBai” (五白), literally “the five whites” in English. This is because the white markings of the BaGe appear in five places, and if you are lucky enough to find a bird with all five places clearly and well marked with white, then you have truly found a special bird. The first white, is the mark on the shoulder of the wings, the second white is the end of the tail, the third white should be between the legs on the underside of the stomach, the fourth white stretches from the hip to the chest area on the front of the bird and the fifth and final white is the area below the eyes of the BaGe. The BaGe that possesses all five whites is very desirable among hobbyists in China.

Like all birds, the BaGe is messy and a little noisy. It frequently cleans its feathers, and defecates often. If you want to keep your pet bird happy, include a small bowl of water, apart from his/her water bowl so that it can do one of its favorite activities: Play in the water! Make sure you purchase a cage with ample space and an easy to clean set-up. Of course, you'll probably be doing that in China, because I'm not sure these birds are legally available in the United States. If you can own a BaGe as a pet, you will quickly learn that they have a wide range of food options available to them. They are omnivorous and as such will accept cooked meat, delicate veggies (softened for their digestive system), insects, fruit and such.

These birds command a decent price and to my knowledge there is not yet, despite their long term popularity among Chinese as pets, an extremely developed market for them as pets. It probably wouldn't take one long to turn such an opportunity profitable. There is even a small population of BaGe in British Columbia, brought over by Chinese immigrants many years ago. So if you were thinking about just catching them in the wild and starting an aviary, that might be a cheaper option than flying to Southeast China. These particular species of Myna (Crested Myna) are in no way endangered and in some places are considered a pests, however more beautiful species are on the brink of extinction. The BaGe, with there many charms and possible color variations could easily become a more popular pet in the United States in the future, for people who are looking for something a little different than a parrot.