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Common Myna
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Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sturnidae
Genus: Acridotheres
Species: Acridotheres tristis

The Common Myna or Indian Myna (Acridotheres tristis) is a common invasive Asian bird in the family Sturnidae.

Description[]

Ranging in body length from 23 to 26 cm, weighing anywhere from 82 to 143 grams, and having a wingspan of 120 to 142 mm, the Common Myna is a particularly distinctive bird, characterized with a black hooded head, brown body plumage and secondary flight feathers, dark brown primary flight and tail feathers, yellow featherless patch behind the eye, white tips on tail feathers, white vent, white patch on the wings most seen in flight, and white underwing coverts. It also sports a bright yellow bill and legs. Sexes are similar in appearance. The birds from northwestern India tend to be paler than their darker counterparts in southern India.

Voice[]

The Common Myna's song includes a variety of chirps, whistles, squawks, clicks and other raucous noises. It often bobs its head down multiple times and fluffs its plumage when singing. The bird screech warnings to its mate or other birds whenever there are predators nearby or it is about to take off flying. Common Mynas as cage birds are popular due to their singing and "speaking" abilities.

Behavior[]

Dove and myna arrangement

2 mynas perched near a pair of Eurasian Collared Doves in an arranged way.

These are quite resilient birds that roost communally throughout the year, sometimes perching and roosting near crows, doves and some other birds. They are also territorial and occasional fights happen between males during the breeding season. Parent birds have also been known to attack humans in case of being near their chicks.

Feeding[]

Myna putting beak into ground foraging for food

Putting beak into the soil to search for food.

Common Mynas usually forage on the ground and will often put their beaks into the soil to find food. Invertebrates are the primary part of their diet, though they also feed on crustaceans, small mammals, small reptiles, seeds, grain, fruit and discarded waste from human habitation. They forage either singly, in pairs or groups. They are very useful in eliminating locusts and grasshoppers, which is why the genus of typical mynas is given the Latin name Acridotheres, meaning "locust hunter". In a year, taking into account of feeding the chicks, the Common Myna can eat about 150 thousand insects.

Breeding and Nesting[]

Myna adult and young

Adult bird and its young.

Depending on geographical location, Common Mynas have been reported to breed anywhere from 1-3 times a year. In their native range, Common Mynas typically begin nesting in March and breeding lasts through September. They're normally a monogamous species and it is believed that they pair for life. They breed from sea level to 3000 m in the Himalayas. When they start breeding depends on where the individuals are in their range, and they may breed throughout the year.

The normal clutch size is around 4 to 6 eggs and sometimes can be from 2 to 3 eggs. Both sexes incubate for 17 to 18 days and chicks fledge in about 20 days. They use twigs, roots, tow and rubbish to build the nest. Common Mynas were observed using the nests of woodpeckers, parakeets, etc. and also easily takes to nest boxes; they have been recorded evicting the chicks of previously nesting pairs by holding them in the beak and later sometimes not even using the emptied nest boxes. This is what contributes to its success of being an invasive species. This species is also an occasional host of the Asian Koel.

Distribution and Habitat[]

Common Mynas are native to central, south and southeast Asia. They have been introduced to many areas such as South Africa, Madagascar, small parts of Middle East, Florida, Hawaii, Taiwan, a part of Japan, many Oceanic islands, Australia and North Island of New Zealand; in most of the areas they're introduced to, they are regarded as a pest, considered invasive, and even an "alien" species. They're originally a bird of open woodlands and nowadays, common in urban and suburban areas.

Relationship to Humans[]

As an Invasive Species[]

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In Culture[]

In Sanskrit literature, the Common Myna is known by a number of names, mainly of what describes the bird's appearance and behavior. In addition to saarika, the names for the Common Myna include kalahapriya, meaning "one who is fond of arguments", referring to the quarrelsome nature of this bird; chitranetra, meaning "picturesque eyes"; peetanetra (one with yellow eyes) and peetapaad (one with yellow legs).

Gallery[]

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