Indian Myna - Identification

How do I Identify an Indian Myna?


Indian Myna Photo: Richard Major Australian Museum	Indian Myna in Flight Photo: Toby Roscoe Australian National University Myna Project

The Indian Myna is a very distinctive bird. There are a number of features that will help you to recognise it:

It is a medium sized chocolate-brown bird with a black head and neck;
It is about 25 cm tall;
It has a yellow beak, eye patch, feet and legs;
It has white wing patches that are obvious when the birds are flying; and
It walks (some say struts) rather than hops.

Please click on the Play Button below to hear the call of the Indian Myna.

The Native Noisy Minor

Noisy Minor
Photo: Richard Major
Australian Museum

The Noisy Miner is native to Australia.

The native Noisy Minor (Manorina melanocephala) is a honeyeater that is sometimes confused with the Indian Myna.

Although the Noisy Miner and the Indian Myna both have yellow skin behind the eye and a yellow beak and legs, you can distinguish the native Noisy Miner by its predominantly grey body.

Whilst this bird may be noisy around the garden and can be territorial, it does not pose the same threat to other birds as the Indian Myna, and is a protected species.

1024