A 2021 study found that "G. contra" may instead represent a species complex of 3 distinct species: the Indian pied starling ("G. contra sensu stricto") from most of the Indian Subcontinent, Myanmar, and Yunnan in China, with subspecies "sordida" and "superciliaris"; the monotypic Thai pied starling ("G. floweri") from Thailand and Cambodia, and the monotypic possibly extinct in the wild Javan pied starling("G. jalla"), historically known from Java and Bali in Indonesia. "G. jalla" was likely driven to extinction in the wild due to the illegal songbird trade becoming increasingly pervasive in Indonesia, and in captivity it is likely threatened by hybridization with captured individuals of mainland pied myna species. It has been recommended to search for genetically pure members of the species in the wildlife trade for the purpose of captive breeding; a potential captive population of pure "G. jalla" exists at Bali Bird Park.