Jungle myna

 

Scientific name:- Acridothers fuscus

 

General features:-   Tufted forehead and white wing patch and tail tip; lacks bare orbital skin.Juvenile browner with reduced forehead tuft.Found near cultivation, well-wooded areas, edge of habitation.

 

                Commonly found in hilly areas and forests, but have been found in habitual areas like in thrissur and Ernakulum. Size, sounds, behavior, food, life style are all almost similar to the common myna. Differences in appearance with common myna include the absence of yellow skin near eyes and a more brownish grey colour, and presence of a feathery tuft above the beak.

          

               Jungle mynas are seen to nest as a group having about 10-20 nests side by side to each other,they usually nest in tree holes, in fissures on walls or ojn palm leaves. Eggs have a characteristic blue colouration without markings.

                     

              Both mynas are good friends of farmers as they keep in check the number of insects feeding on crops. They can be frequently seen near or about cattle's. When they are feeding in the open they feed on insects fleeing from the large animals foot paths. They are known by many names in Hindi, in some areas of India meaning the-“cattle herders”.

common myna

 

Scientific name:- Acridotheres tristis

 

General features – Brownish myna with yellow orbital skin, white wing patch and white tail tip.Juvenile duller.

                               Found near habitation and cultivation.

 

                                     Common mynas are found commonly in towns ,villages and near cultivation areas all around Kerala.Although they perch in trees, main food source comes from ground foraging. While flyinng you can notice a white patch along their wings and end of their tails.                                     

                                   Just like crows mynas are commonly not afraid of man and readily take up food thrown as waist.Their natural diet include maggots, worms, earthworms, insects, seeds, fruits, grains etc.Seen in groups of related individuals(20-30 birds).Consists of pairs or small groups of related birds. Unlike some birds their mode of foraging on the ground consists of walking on both legs like the way humans walk.They are among the most courageous birds able to fend of predators such as snakes, owls etc. and have been observed to procure the nests of other birds by aggressive take overs.                         

  

                                When seeing predators such as snakes, they flock together and make a characteristic alarm call, which itself will deter the less courageous attackers.Mynas are seen to be highly vocalized among birds able to make a wide variety of sounds to convey messages between them. They have been seen to mimic other bird calls. They usually become silent at night when they often share their rest place with other birds.                          

                               Common mynas like crows are seen to nest as separate pairs rather than as a group like jungle mynas. Eggs have a characteristic blue colouration without markings, they have been seen particularly fond of the ’cellophane’ packing's like in cigarettes while during nesting periods. They have been found to be fond of nectar particularly of trees such as “poola”,”murikku”,”plashu” and can be seen using them in the flowering season.