Black head and neck. Dark brown body. Thick, yellow bill. Yellow patch of bare skin around a pale eye. Large, white wing patches that are obvious in flight. White undertail and undertail coverts. Short dark tail with white tip. Yellow legs and feet. Sexes similar. 9 inches in length.

Open woodlands, cultivation, towns, and parks. Native to India. Introduced to Hawaii in 1865 to control pests; now common on all the main islands.

Nesting

2-5 blue-green eggs. The eggs have a 13 day incubation period. Fledging occurs in 29-35 days. Nests in tree or building cavities, or dense foliage. Mates for life.