Indian Myna

About

The Indian Myna is a medium-sized passerine bird in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is native to Asia but has been introduced to many other parts of the world, where it is often considered an invasive species due to its aggressive nature and impact on native ecosystems. It is highly adaptable and thrives in urban and agricultural environments.

Size & lifespan

Length

23-26 cm

Wingspan

37-42 cm

Weight

82-143 g

Lifespan

4-12 years in the wild, up to 25 years in captivity

Diet

Omnivore

Physical characteristics

Plumage

Adults have a glossy black head and neck, with a dark brown body. The lower belly and vent are white. The wings are dark brown with prominent white patches on the primaries, visible in flight. The tail is dark brown with white tips on the outer tail feathers.

Beak shape

Strong, pointed, and bright yellow. The base of the lower mandible is often slightly darker.

Eye color

Dark brown, surrounded by a distinctive patch of bare yellow skin.

Leg color

Bright yellow

Distinguishing features

The combination of the glossy black head, dark brown body, bright yellow bill and legs, and the prominent yellow bare skin around the eye are key identification features. The large white wing patches are very conspicuous in flight.

Juvenile appearance

Juveniles resemble adults but have duller plumage, with a less glossy black head and a paler brown body. The yellow skin around the eye is less vibrant, and the bill and legs are a duller yellow or yellowish-brown.

Seasonal changes

No significant seasonal plumage changes. Plumage may appear slightly duller when worn before molting.

Sexual dimorphism

Males and females are monomorphic, meaning they look identical in plumage and size.

How to identify

1. 1

   Head and Eye

   Look for the glossy black head and the distinctive patch of bare yellow skin around the dark eye.

2. 2

   Body Plumage

   Note the dark brown body contrasting with the black head and white lower belly/vent.

3. 3

   Bill and Legs

   Observe the bright yellow bill and legs, which are very conspicuous.

4. 4

   Wing Patches

   In flight, the large, prominent white patches on the primary feathers are a key identifier.

5. 5

   Tail

   Look for the dark tail with white tips on the outer feathers, often fanned slightly during landing or display.

6. 6

   Behavior

   Their confident, often bold demeanor, ground foraging, and noisy vocalizations are characteristic.

Habitat & range

Biomes

Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, shrublands, forests, and urban/suburban areas.

Geographic range

Native to Asia, from Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, extending into Southeast Asia. Introduced populations are widespread globally, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Hawaii, Fiji, and many other Pacific and Indian Ocean islands, as well as parts of Europe and North America.

Elevation range

Sea level up to approximately 3,000 meters in some parts of its native range, but typically found at lower elevations.

Preferred environments

Highly adaptable, preferring open woodlands, cultivated lands, parks, gardens, and urban environments. They are particularly common in areas with human habitation, where food and nesting sites are abundant.

Behavior

Activity time

Diurnal, most active during the day, especially in the morning and late afternoon.

Feeding habits

Highly opportunistic omnivores. Their diet includes a wide variety of insects (grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, caterpillars), other invertebrates (earthworms, spiders), fruits, berries, seeds, nectar, discarded human food, and occasionally small vertebrates like lizards, eggs, and nestlings of other birds. They forage on the ground, in trees, and around human settlements.

Social behavior

Highly social birds, often seen in pairs or small family groups during the breeding season. Outside of breeding, they form large communal roosts, sometimes numbering in the thousands, especially in urban areas. They are known for their aggressive and territorial behavior, particularly towards other bird species.

Flight pattern

Strong, direct, and somewhat undulating flight with rapid wing beats. They often glide for short distances.

Migration pattern

Primarily resident throughout its range, though some local movements may occur in response to food availability or harsh weather conditions. They are not migratory in the traditional sense.

Territoriality

Highly territorial, especially during the breeding season. They aggressively defend nesting sites and foraging areas from other mynas and native bird species, often evicting them from nests or competing for resources.

Breeding & reproduction

Breeding season

Varies geographically, but generally from spring to summer (e.g., March-September in India, September-March in Australia). They can have multiple broods per year.

Nesting habits

Nests are bulky, untidy structures made of twigs, grass, leaves, rubbish, and often human-made materials like plastic and paper. They typically nest in tree hollows, building cavities, roof spaces, or abandoned nests of other birds. Both sexes participate in nest building.

Clutch size

3-6 eggs, commonly 4-5.

Egg description

Eggs are glossy, pale blue or greenish-blue, sometimes with faint reddish-brown spots. They are typically oval-shaped.

Incubation period

17-18 days, primarily by the female, though the male may assist.

Fledging period

22-24 days after hatching. Young are fed by both parents.

Parental care

Both parents share duties of incubation (to a lesser extent for males) and feeding the nestlings. Young are dependent on parents for several weeks after fledging.

Where to find

Field tips

1. Listen for their calls. Their noisy and varied vocalizations often give away their presence before they are seen.
2. Observe foraging behavior. They are often seen walking confidently on lawns, pavements, or cultivated ground, pecking for food.
3. Look for communal roosts. At dawn and dusk, large numbers can be observed flying to and from communal roosting sites.
4. Check around human activity. They are highly habituated to humans and frequently found near markets, cafes, and picnic areas.

Similar species

Quick facts

Common Name:

Indian Myna

Scientific Name:

Acridotheres tristis

Family:

Sturnidae (Starlings)

Diet:

Omnivore

Conservation Status:

Least Concern (IUCN Red List)

Key Identification Mark:

Glossy black head, brown body, yellow bill/legs, yellow eye-patch, white wing patches in flight.

Social Behavior:

Highly social, forms large communal roosts.

Invasive Status:

Considered one of the world's most invasive species outside its native range.

Fun facts

• The Indian Myna was listed among the world's 100 worst invasive species by the IUCN.
• They are excellent mimics and can incorporate sounds from their environment, including human speech, into their vocalizations.
• Their scientific name 'Acridotheres tristis' translates to 'sad grasshopper hunter', referring to their diet and somewhat melancholic-sounding calls.
• Indian Mynas are known for their aggressive nest site competition, often evicting native birds from their nests.
• They are highly intelligent birds and can solve simple problems to access food.

Scientific classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Sturnidae

Genus

Acridotheres

Species

Acridotheres tristis

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