Common myna
Background
The common myna, also known as Indian myna, was deliberately introduced to eastern Australia in an attempt to control insect pests.
Wild established populations are found in:
- southern and central Victoria
- eastern New South Wales
- the Australian Capital Territory
- north-eastern and south-eastern Queensland.
It is illegal to keep, transport, sell or release common mynas in South Australia under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019.
The occasional common myna is spotted and reported in South Australia. These sightings and reports are vital to ensure they don’t establish in South Australia.
Impacts
Common mynas are a serious pest bird that:
- damage fruit in commercial orchards and home gardens
- damage cereal crops
- spread weeds
- compete with native bird species
- prey on eggs/young of native species.
Identification
The native noisy miner is commonly mistaken for the common myna.
You can compare the differences below:
Common myna
Approximately 25 cm in length it has a brown body with a dark brown-black head. It has a yellow beak and bare yellow skin beneath and behind the eyes and long yellow legs. The common myna has white patches on its wings, visible when in flight.
Approximately 25 cm in length it has a brown body with a dark brown-black head. It has a yellow beak and bare yellow skin beneath and behind the eyes and long yellow legs. The common myna has white patches on its wings, visible when in flight.
Noisy miner
A grey bird, with a black head, orange-yellow beak and feet, a distinctive yellow patch behind the eye, and white tips on the tail feathers
A grey bird, with a black head, orange-yellow beak and feet, a distinctive yellow patch behind the eye, and white tips on the tail feathers
More information
Reporting common myna
The common myna has not yet become established in South Australia. To make sure this doesn’t happen report all suspected sightings.
Page last reviewed: 30 Apr 2021