Photo · (c) Terra Occ, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Common Myna

Acridotheres tristis(Linnaeus, 1766)

Updated 11 June 2026

Least ConcernIntroduced

Order: PASSERIFORMES
Family: Sturnidae
Genus: Acridotheres

At a glance

The Common Myna is a medium-sized bird, about 23–26 cm long, listed as Least Concern. It can be seen year-round.

Size: 23–26 cm
Conservation status: Least Concern
Origin: Introduced
Best seen: Year-round
Commonness: Very common

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Common Myna look like?

The Common Myna is a medium-sized bird, about 23–26 cm long and weighing 82–143 g, identified by its bare yellow skin patch behind eye, bright yellow bill and legs, large white primary patch and white-tipped tail.

The common myna or Indian myna, sometimes spelled mynah, is a bird in the family Sturnidae, native to Asia. An omnivorous open woodland bird with a strong territorial instinct, the common myna has adapted extremely well to urban environments.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

01
Bare yellow skin patch behind eye
A teardrop-shaped patch of featherless yellow skin extends back from the eye.
02
Bright yellow bill and legs
The strong, unstreaked yellow colour of the bill and legs is consistent and matches the bare skin on the face.
03
Large white primary patch
A prominent white patch is visible on the folded wing and creates a bright flash during flight.
04
White-tipped tail
The dark tail features a distinct, broad white band at the tip, conspicuous when perched.

Field specs

Length: 23–26 cm
Weight: 82–143 g
Wingspan: 43 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

Field tips

behaviour

On the ground, this species has a confident, upright stance and moves with a characteristic jaunty walk rather than just hopping.
At dusk, these birds often gather in large, communal roosts, creating a loud and persistent chorus of chattering before settling for the night.

flight

Watch for prominent white patches flashing on the outer wings and broad white tips on the rounded tail, which are highly conspicuous against the dark plumage.

plumage

Look for a solid black head and neck that contrasts with a brown body, accented by a bright yellow bill and a distinctive patch of bare yellow skin behind the eye.

voice

Listen for a loud, varied sequence of liquid gurgles, harsh chattering, and whistles, often delivered while the bird rhythmically bobs its head and fluffs its feathers.

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Common Myna?

The Common Myna is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

What sound does a Common Myna make?

Recordings of the Common Myna on BirdUp feature its song and call.

song · Quality B

James Ray · Collins St at Botany Rd (near Beaconsfield), Council of the City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

4:47

call · Quality B

James Ray · Grose Rd after Chapman Pde (near Faulconbridge), Blue Mountains City Council, New South Wales, Australia

1:15

song · Quality B

James Ray · Grose Rd after Chapman Pde (near Faulconbridge), Blue Mountains City Council, New South Wales, Australia

0:02

Call

Nick Swanson · Rochedale South QLD 4123, Australia

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Common Myna eat?

The Common Myna feeds on seeds, terrestrial invertebrates and terrestrial vertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

07 · Similar species

Could be confused with

A few Australian birds resemble the Common Myna. Here’s how to tell them apart at a glance.

How to tell the Common Myna apart from similar Australian bird species.
Species	How to tell them apart
Noisy MinerManorina melanocephala	Often confused, the Noisy Miner is an introduced species to Australia and is identifiable by it's predominantly gray with a black crown body colouring vs the Common Mynah's chocolate-brown body with a blackish head.

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