Common myna

Acridotheres tristis

A South Asian starling with yellow bare skin around the eyes, a dark head, and strong adaptation to towns.

Key facts

Common myna (Acridotheres tristis) is an omnivore animal classified as Bird · Passeriformes · Sturnidae.
Primary habitats are urban · grassland · forest, with a range across Indomalayan · Australasian · Afrotropical · Palearctic.
Activity is diurnal, sociality is loose group, and conservation status is LC (Least Concern).
A South Asian starling with yellow bare skin around the eyes, a dark head, and strong adaptation to towns.
Uses cities, farmland, grassland, woodland edges, markets, and ports, often thriving in introduced urban areas.

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Uses cities, farmland, grassland, woodland edges, markets, and ports, often thriving in introduced urban areas.

The body is brown with a black head and yellow bare skin around the eyes. White wing patches flash in flight.

Pairs or small groups walk on the ground, call loudly, and defend nest cavities aggressively.

It eats insects, fruit, seeds, nectar, scraps, and small animals.

Nests are built in tree holes or buildings using grass, paper, and other materials, allowing easy breeding in towns.

In introduced areas it can become invasive and compete with native birds for cavities and food.