Sixteen myna facts
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| myna bird |
- The mynas (also spelt mynahs) are birds of the starling family.
- Mynas love to build their nests in tree holes or abandoned nests of woodpeckers. However, they can be often spotted at cliff sides, walls or even in holes in rooftops.
- Several species have been introduced to areas like North America, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, especially the Common Myna which is often regarded as an invasive species.
- Did you know that the word ‘myna’ has been derived from the Sanskrit word ‘madana’, which draws its inspiration from the English word ‘bubbles’, indicating happiness? Thus, the word ‘myna’ means ‘brimming with happiness or joy’.
- Mynas are not a natural group; instead, the term myna is used for any starling in India and surrounding areas, regardless of their relationships.
- The bird makes for a truly treasured pet, with its exceptional talent as an imitator. It can deftly mimic almost any sound it hear, right from the sound of human voices to the sound of a bicycle. Now, that’s incredible, isn’t it!
- Mynas are medium-sized passerines with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct, and they are gregarious.
- The Global Invasive Species Database has listed mynah as the top 100 worst invaders in the world.
- Plumage is typically dark, often brown, although some species have yellow head ornaments. Most species nest in holes.
- These birds have as many as eleven sub-species. What’s more, they love to live in pairs or in flocks of twenty to thirty birds.
- There are different types of mynahs - Bali myna, Hill myna, Golden-crested myna and Common myna. Though these birds vary in their size, shape and color, their basic temperament is usually the same.
- Myna holds different significance for different nations. While it is the national symbol of Bali; in India, it is seen more as a symbol of everlasting love.
- These birds have glossy black skin, with yellow lappets or wattles. They have yellow beak and feet with a white patch on each wing.
- Common myna was first described in 1766 by Carolus Linnaeus, Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist.
- Mynahs are prone to liver problems, because they love to feed on trash, something that makes them less desired at times.
- Mynas often scavenge the grass for insects, especially grasshoppers. This is how they have gained their genetic name Acridotheres or "grasshopper hunter".
