Introduction
The common myna or mynah (Acridotheres tristis) is also known as the Indian, Calcutta or house myna. It is not native to Australia but has established populations in eastern and south-eastern Australia, as well as other countries worldwide.
The common myna has significant potential to spread further in Australia as populations are expanding south in Queensland and westwards across western Victoria and New South Wales. It is important to prevent the common myna from spreading further in Australia.
Description
The common myna is 22-27cm in length (body and tail), with a brown body, dark brown to black head, yellow bill and bare yellow skin beneath and behind the eyes. Its dark wings have prominent white patches visible in flight, it has a black tail tipped with white and long yellow legs. Male, female and immature birds all look similar.
The common myna forages mostly on the ground and it has a distinctive walk or strut. The species is noisy and produces loud, raucous calls including scolding and chattering. Calls and chattering continue late into the night and begin before dawn.
Mistaken identity
There are some Australian native honeyeaters called miners that are not related to the common myna but look similar. Like the common myna, these native miners can sometimes forage on the ground in towns and cities. However, the native miners look different in that they have light grey to grey-brown bodies. They include:
- noisy miner (eastern Australia including Tasmania)
- yellow-throated miner (all states except Tasmania).