Fun Jungle Myna Facts For Kids
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The jungle myna (Acridotheres fuscus) is from the family Sturnidae. The population of this species is distributed in the range that includes Bangladesh, Nepal, and India.
Subspecies of this bird are found in India including Mount Abu, Puri, and the Andaman Islands. Breeding populations of this bird are found in western Samoa and Japan.
This bird has also been recorded in the Pacific Islands.
The habitat of this bird consists of tropical and subtropical forests, moist lowlands and are commonly seen inhabiting regions near a water source or rice fields.
The breeding season of these birds differs based on the range, that is, for the southern Indian population, it takes place from February to May, whereas, in the northern region, it is from April to July.
The nest of these birds is made in tree holes or in buildings and other man-made constructions. It is believed that these birds compete with the native birds for the nest. To line the nest, dry pine needles are used and four to six eggs are laid, and both the parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks.
The plumage of these birds is gray with darker-colored wings and heads. There is a white patch on the primary wing which is prominent during flight. The legs and the bill of these birds are yellow in color. This myna does not have bare skin around the eye. The chicks are known to be browner and have duller throats.
This species is omnivorous and tends to feed on berries, seeds, and insects. It is also known to forage on the waste from kitchens in urban regions.
The call of this species is known to be high-pitched in comparison to a common myna. This myna might kill the young ones of the native birds when competing for nests. It is known to be a symbol of undying love.
It is very fascinating to learn about this species and if you are interested, read about the violet-backed starling and the metallic starling, too.
Jungle Myna Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a jungle myna?
The jungle myna is a type of bird.
What class of animal does a jungle myna belong to?
It is placed under the class of Aves.
How many jungle mynas are there in the world?
There is no total estimation available for the global population of the jungle myna.
Where does a jungle myna live?
The jungle myna is known to be a resident breeder in southern Asia, including Bangladesh, Nepal, and India. Subspecies of this bird are found in India including Mount Abu, Puri, Andaman Islands. Breeding populations of this bird are found in western Samoa and Japan.
What is a jungle myna's habitat?
The habitat that the jungle myna tends to inhabit includes tropical and subtropical forests, moist lowlands, and also can be spotted in a habitat that is near a water source.
Who do jungle mynas live with?
These mynas can commonly be spotted in pairs or groups.
How long does a jungle myna live?
Mynas, in general, live for about 12-25 years.
How do they reproduce?
The breeding season of these birds takes place in the summer season before rains begin, that is, from February to May in the southern part of India, and in the northern part of India, it takes from April to July.
The birds of these species are known to be secondary cavity nesters, that is, they tend to use both tree holes and man-made buildings and constructions.
These birds tend to compete with other native hole-nester birds of the world. Dry pine needles are used to line the nests.
Nest building is done by both parents.
Around four to six eggs that are turquoise-blue in color are laid. Incubation is done by both males and females, and also, both are known to feed the chicks.
What is their conservation status?
The jungle myna is classified in the Least Concern category of conservation status.
Jungle Myna Fun Facts
What do jungle mynas look like?
The jungle myna is known to have a gray-colored plumage which is darker on the wings and the head. Males and females appear to be similar.
There is a patch on the base of the primary wing of which is large and white and is prominent during flight. The feathers of the tail are white-tipped.
Extending from the base of the bill, there is a feather tuft on the forehead but not on the whole head. The legs and the bill of this species are yellow in color. Unlike other species, this myna does not have bare skin around the eye.
The beak base is dark and there is a blue shade at the lower mandible base in adults. The population found in southern India has a blue iris.
The belly is smoky dark in the northeastern population. The young ones of this bird are browner and have a duller throat.
How cute are they?
The jungle myna is considered cute because of its size and plumage.
How do they communicate?
Communication of jungle mynas takes place just like other birds species, that is, through various sounds and calls and other physical gestures.
How big is a jungle myna?
The length of this bird is around 9 in (23 cm).
How fast can a jungle myna move?
The exact speed of this bird is not known.
How much does a jungle myna weigh?
The weight of jungle mynas ranges from 2.5-3.5 oz (72-98 g).
What are the male and female names of the species?
Males and females of this species do not have sex-specific names.
What would you call a baby jungle myna?
Baby birds, in general, are known as chicks, juveniles, or young.
What do they eat?
The diet of the jungle myna is known to be omnivorous and it feeds on fruits, berries, seeds, and insects, like beetles and termites. Berries are taken from low bushes like Lantana and nectar from flowers like Erythrina and Spathodea campanulata.
Are they dangerous?
The jungle myna is not considered dangerous.
Would they make a good pet?
They are illegal to own as pets.
Did you know...
The jungle myna is known to be a member of the starling family.
Some closely related species like the Javan myna and the pale-bellied myna tend to have a forehead tuft just like the jungle myna. These two species were once considered subspecies of the jungle myna.
When compared to a common myna, the call of the jungle myna is more high-pitched.
It has been recorded that these mynas tend to perch on grazing animals and ectoparasites are picked off from their bodies.
In Fiji, it has been observed that these mynas tend to engage in anting, which is a process in which a bird rubs an insect all over its body and feathers using a millipede.
It has been recorded that these birds might also use sloughed snake skins to line the nest hole from inside.
Roosting of these birds might take place in reed beds and sugarcane fields in groups including other mynas.
Indians consider the myna bird to be a symbol of love or rather undying love as the pairs mate for life.
The myna bird is also known to kill insects like ticks.
Sometimes, the jungle myna is often confused with the Indian myna. Actually, the common myna is also known as the Indian myna.
The jungle myna is known to have formed a feral population in Taiwan.
As these birds are competitive nesters with the native birds, they tend to kick other birds out of their nests and kill their young ones and thus, affect the distribution of some birds.
Some parasites that are associated with this species include Haemoproteus, Plasmodium circumflexum, and Dorisa aethiopsaris.
How does the jungle myna affect the environment?
The jungle myna is known to affect commercial crops as they tend to feed on fruits and also affect the distribution of some populations of the birds of the world as they are competitive nesters.
What is the myna bird called in English?
The myna is called 'mynah' in English.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these vermilion flycatcher facts and chipping sparrow facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable chestnut-tailed starling coloring pages.
Main image by Raman Kumar.
Second image by T. R. Shankar Raman.
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Based in Lucknow, India, Aashita is a skilled content creator with experience crafting study guides for high school-aged kids. Her education includes a degree in Business Administration from St. Mary's Convent Inter College, which she leverages to bring a unique perspective to her work. Aashita's passion for writing and education is evident in her ability to craft engaging content.
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