Bird Special (Common Indian Myna)

Overview

Common Myna:

This large stocky starling has a black hood and a patch of bright yellow bare skin behind the eye. Overall body plumage is chocolate-brown, but the under tail and tip of the upper tail and wing patches are white. It has a yellow bill and legs. It feeds on invertebrates and fruits. It mostly walks on the ground, with short rapid flights. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Common Myna:

Native to Asia, ranging from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan eastwards through India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to China and Indochina. It has a close association with human habitation and found wherever man is within its range habitat to open country side , such as cultivated areas, floodplains and grasslands, also abundant in towns and cities, around parks, gardens and refuse dumps.

INTERESTING FACTS

• It forages on the ground among grass for insects, especially for grasshoppers. Its genus name Acridotheres, means “grasshopper hunter“.

• It is known to maintain up to two roosts simultaneously; a temporary summer roost close to a breeding site, and a permanent all-year roost where the female broods and incubates overnight.

• The Common Myna was first described in 1766 by Carolus Linnaeus, Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist.

All the above clicks are from Balasore in Odisha taken with Nikon D7200 70-300 mm Nikkor Lens.

Compiled from Internet and modified for a better reading experience touching all the aspects to make common people like me to be aware of this very common Indian Myna.

Dedicated to all Nature/Bird lovers & Photographers.

#PhotographybySiba