Indian (Common) Myna
Acridotheres tristis

  • Native to the Indian sub-continent
    • Iran to Sri Lanka
    • member of Starling family
    • 12 cm tall
    • distinctive chocolate and black: yellow face skin, beak and legs: white wing patch
    • aggressive / territorial
      • but roost communally
    • opportunistic feeder
      • meat, food scraps, pet food, seed, berries, chicks
    • long lived
    • breeds Oct – March

(Photo by Geoffrey Dabb)

(Photo by Mark David, www.mdavid.com.au)
  • Not to be confused with Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala)
    • native bird
    • nectar feeder
    • predominantly grey with black patch around eye and on top of head
    • also aggressive to other honeyeaters and protective of food source
    • becoming more common and established in Canberra’s urban fringe

(Photo by Mark David, www.mdavid.com.au)

Starlings and Blackbirds are also non-native introduced birds that are regarded as pests. CIMAG’s trapping program is directed towards Indian Mynas and Starlings.

  • Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

 

(Photo by Geoffrey Dabb)

(Photo by Geoffrey Dabb)
  • Common Blackbird (Turdus merula)

 

(Photo by Helen Fallow)

(Photo by Stuart Harris)