Indian Myna Birds

The Indian Myna bird – 1 of only 3 birds on the World Conservation Union’s list of 100 most invasive species – is a major pest in Australia’s eastern mainland States and the ACT. By killing native chicks, taking over nesting hollows and preying on skinks and rare and endangered insects they are a significant risk to our wildlife. By carrying pathogens, mites and disease they are a risk to human health.

Their raucous calls, messy roosts, nests in roof spaces, displacement of native birds and their fouling of backyards cause a major loss of public amenity. Their pecking of grapes, figs and soft berry crops – as with native birds – cause horticultural loss.

Canberra Indian Myna Action Group

The Canberra Indian Myna Action Group (CIMAG) is a community group formed in April 2006 to reduce the impact of Indian Myna birds in our region.

Their strategy is to:

  • increased public awareness that this bird is a serious environmental and health threat, not just a nuisance,

  • public education aimed at limiting the spread of the species by reducing its feeding and breeding opportunities, and

  • a humane reduction program.

CIMAG can offer friendly advice on how to participate in the CIMAG humane trapping program and protocols on animal welfare.

We gratefully acknowledge CIMAG for their ongoing support and valuable assistance in supplying us with their factsheets.

For further information on CIMAG’s work, click on CIMAG Fact Sheet Indian Myna Bird, and Protocol on Animal Welfare. Also check out Animal Pest Alert Common Myna for further identification and comparison images.

Feral Scan

Feral Scan and Pestsmart have an amazing amount of information regarding Indian Myna birds.

Click on the links above for factsheets, control techniques, surveillance techniques, management techniques and record sightings.

Indian Myna identification

In Australia, Indian Mynas are often confused with the native noisy miner because of their similar size and appearance.

The Indian Myna has:

  • a brown body

  • a glossy black head, neck and upper breast

  • distinctive white patches on their wings that are clearly visible in flight.

Indian Myna and Native Noisy Miner
Images courtesy of Feral Scan and eBird

Indian Myna Birds
Images courtesy of Feral Scan

“you can have native birds or Indian Mynas - but not both”
Ian Fraser, Naturalist