Common myna
An invasive bird adapted to urban environments.
The common myna or Indian myna (Acridotheres tristis) is a bird in the family Sturnidae, native to Asia. An omnivorous open woodland bird with a strong territorial instinct, it has adapted extremely well to urban environments. Its range is increasing so rapidly that in 2000 the IUCN Species Survival Commission declared it one of the world's most invasive species and one of only three birds listed among '100 of the World's Worst Invasive Species,' posing a threat to biodiversity, agriculture, and human interests.
- Scientific name
- Acridotheres tristis
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Native range
- Asia (Iran to China, Indochina, Malay Peninsula, southern India)
- Body length
- 23 cm (9.1 in)
- Subspecies
- 2 (Indian myna and Sri Lankan myna)
- IUCN status
- Listed among 100 of the World's Worst Invasive Species (2000)
Lore & Background
t. tristis), found from southern Kazakhstan to southern India and introduced to Hawai‘i and North America, and the Sri Lankan myna (A. t. melanosternus), which is darker with half-black and half-white primary coverts and a larger yellow cheek-patch. The common myna is readily identified by its brown body, black hooded head, bare yellow patch behind the eye, and bright yellow bill and legs. It obeys Gloger's rule, with birds from northwestern India paler than those from southern India. The common myna is known for its vocalizations, including croaks, squawks, chirps, clicks, whistles, and growls, and it often fluffs its feathers and bobs its head while singing. It screeches warnings to its mate or other birds when predators are near or when it is about to take flight. Before sleeping in communal roosts, common mynas vocalize in unison, a behavior called 'communal noise.'
Reader's Guide
The common myna's significance lies in its status as one of the world's most invasive species, as declared by the IUCN Species Survival Commission in 2000. The species thrives in urban and suburban settings, likely because it evolved in open woodlands of India and is pre-adapted to habitats with tall vertical structures and little ground cover, characteristic of city streets. It is a nuisance to city buildings, as its nests block gutters and drainpipes, causing water damage. The common myna is omnivorous, feeding on insects, grubs, earthworms, reptiles, small mammals, seeds, fruit, and human waste. It also preys on eggs and young of other birds, such as the Hawaiʻi ʻakepa. Its aggressive breeding behavior, including evicting chicks from nests, contributes to its invasive success. The species has been introduced to many regions worldwide, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and islands in the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans.
Did You Know?
- The common myna is one of only three birds listed among '100 of the World's Worst Invasive Species' by the IUCN in 2000.
- The specific name tristis is Latin for 'sad' or 'gloomy.'
- The common myna uses the nests of woodpeckers and parakeets and has been recorded evicting chicks of previously nesting pairs.
More in Birds 1-24
Elsewhere in the Birds universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record