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The Wildebeest's guide to South Africa

Common Myna / Indian Myna

Afrikaans name: Indiese Spreeu

Common Mynas like to share our gardens with us

Common Myna on a garden fence

Photo © Steven Herbert

Acridotheres tristis

The Common Myna is more commonly known as the Indian Myna and went under that name for a long time in South African ornithological circles. On the Internet you find a variety of spellings of its old name such as Indian Miner, Indian Mynah and Indian Mynah Bird.

This bird is an introduced species in South Africa. It was introduced in South Africa in the 1890's and its population has grown tremendously as it spreads from town to town. It is most common around human habitation.

Despite being an introduced species it is loved and admired in some places. In Durban particularly it is used a symbol for some buses etc. I must admit that I am one of the many people that does not like this bird. It is quite aggressive and often chases other garden birds away from feeding stations. Something that I do admire is their range of calls which often including mimicing of telephones and many other sounds. I also find their territorial fights quite fun!

Common Mynas are typically seen in pairs, or small groups, but they often get together in huge numbers overnight. The noise at these roosts, in the early evening, is unbelievable.

Male and female have the same plumage. Sometimes you will see an individual that has a lot of feathers missing from its head exposing the bright yellow skin. The reason for this is not known. The Malayan people call this "botak" which means bald head.

Mynas pair for life and lay about 5 eggs at a time. Their nest sites are normally in holes under roofs or similar structures. They used to be infamous for building their nests in traffic lights, until the design was changed from a closed cylinder to one with an open base.

Mynas are members of the Starling family. They originate from Southern Asia but have spread to many parts of the world.

Common Myna

Photo © Steven Herbert

They eat a wide variety of foods including insects, small mammals, fruit and seeds. They will readily eat leftover food put out by people.

The scientific name of the Common Myna is Acridotheres tristis which has an interesting meaning. The generic name comes from the Greek words acrido and theres which basically mean locust and hunting. The specific name tristis is Latin for sad. So does that make this bird a "sad locust hunter"?

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

EditionRoberts nrScientific name
1st734Acridotheres tristis
2nd734Acridotheres tristis
3rd734Acridotheres tristis
4th734Acridotheres tristis
5th758Acridotheres tristis
6th758Acridotheres tristis
7th809Acridotheres tristis

EditionRoberts nrEnglish name
1st734Indian Myna
2nd734Indian Myna
3rd734Indian Myna
4th734Indian Myna
5th758Indian Myna
6th758Indian Myna
7th809Common Myna

EditionRoberts nrAfrikaans name
1st734Indiese-spreeu
2nd734Indiese Spreeu
3rd734Indiese Spreeu
4th734Indiese Spreeu
5th758Indiese Spreeu
6th758Indiese Spreeu
7th809Indiese Spreeu

Pair of Common Mynas

Photo © Steven Herbert

References and further reading

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 174

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 58

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 193

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 311

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 62

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 404

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 2

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 370

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 665

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 521

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 667

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 393

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 509

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 384

Newmans Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1991 - Page: 94

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 306

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 98

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 384

Geoff Lockwoods Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 43

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 290

Know your Garden Birds - Author: - Published: 0 - Page: 34

Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: P. Ginn & G. McIlleron - Published: 1981 - Page: 28

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 23

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 118

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 74

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 238

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 102

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 110

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 279

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 255

BirdLife South Africa


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