The Talking Hill Myna is a glossy black bird with large yellow wattles on the head, usually in the area of the neck, though position and shape varies with the species. Its legs and beak are bright yellow or orange.

The Talking Hill Myna gets its name from its ability to mimic human speech, a skill for which it has become a popular pet, both in Thailand and overseas. It is still fairly common in the wild, though not normally outside the forests.