General

Common Myna: Fairly large, stocky starling with black hood and patch of bright yellow bare skin behind eye. Overall body plumage is chocolate-brown but undertail, tip of uppertail, and wing patches are white. Bill and legs are yellow. Sexes are similar. Juvenile resembles adult but has duller head markings.

Range and Habitat

Common Myna: Favors open country, mostly around human habitation, including farmlands, streets, parks. An Asian bird that has been introduced to Hawaii and south Florida.

Breeding and Nesting

Common Myna: Both sexes construct an untidy collection of sticks and miscellaneous debris in any kind of hole or cavity. Lays two to six blue to blue green eggs that are incubated for 13 to 18 days by both parents. May lay up to 3 clutches over breeding season. Young fledge in 22 to 35 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Common Myna: Typically feeds on ground and is adapted for probing for food in soil, but diet is wide-ranging and will eat nearly any plant or animal matter. Often flies into trees and shrubs to eat flowers, fruits, and insects.

Readily Eats

Cracked Corn, Commercial Mixed Bird Seed

Vocalization

Common Myna: Extremely vocal, mimics other birds, and makes a tremendous variety of gurgles, whistles, grating or liquid notes.

Similar Species

Common Myna: Hill Myna has a black body, an orange-red bill, and yellow-orange patches of skin behind and below eyes.