ABC Wednesday: M is for Myna

Pied Mynah (白頰椋鳥), Gracupica contra

The Mynas (also spelt Mynahs) are Asian species of Starlings (椋鳥) in the family Sturnidae. Mynas occure naturally only in southern and eastern Asia. For me, they look very different from the American or European Starlings.

Common Myna or Indian Myan (家八哥), Acridotheres tristis

The term Myna is used for any Starling in India and surrounding areas. The Common Mynas adapt well in different environments even thrive in urban and suburban area. It is among the World's 100 worst invasive species (IUCN), one of the only three birds in the list.

Jungle Myna (林八哥), Acridotheres fuscus

Mynas are kept as pets in many Asian countries. Escaped birds have formed feral population locally. Both Jungle Myna and Common Myna can be found in the wild (if you call parks in Taipei as wild) in Taiwan.

Black-winged Starling (黑袖椋鳥), Acridotheres melanopterus

Black-winged Starling is endemic to Indonesia. Once, it was an abundant bird, but now, it is treated as endangered by the IUCN.

Bali Myna (八里白椋鳥), Leucopsar rothschildi

Bali Myna as its name implies that it is endemic to the island of Bali. It is now critically endangered. The wild population was at an all-time low of just 6 birds in 2001. A conservation program was initiated in 1999 from two pairs of birds brought from London back to Bali. In 2006, birds from the breeding program have been started to be released into the wild.

Yellow-faced Myna (黃臉樹八哥), Mino dumontii

The Yellow-face Myna is native for New Guinea. I photographed the Yellow-faced and Bali Myna at the aviary of Hong Kong Park. The other four birds were photographed at aviary of Taipei Zoo. All pictures were taken with Nikon D700 and 80-400mm VR lens.

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