Myna are alert and clever birds that learn fast and communicate well with each other. They are used to living near or in human settlements and are not afraid of people.
The word 'mynah' or 'myna' derives from the Hindi word mainā, a term of endearment used for pets, children and favoured females. Mainā itself derives from the Sanskrit madana, meaning joyful or delightful. It is also said to mean 'messenger of God' in Sanskriti.
The common myna or Indian myna is a medium-sized bird native to the Middle East, India and Asia. Indian mynas are brown with a glossy black head, neck and upper breast; bright yellow bills, eye skin, legs and feet; and an upright posture.
Common myna is native to the Caspian Sea region and Kazakhstan, south through the Indian subcontinent, and east through Indochina.
Common mynas prefer areas that have been heavily disturbed by human activities. Clearing trees for agriculture and urban development creates ideal habitat for Indian mynas.
Since the time of Pliny, starlings and mynas of several kinds have been identified as beneficial to man through their consumption of insects, and particularly locusts. Starlings and mynas also help man with flower pollination and seed dispersal.
Myna: Bird of starling family
