Bank Myna

Throughout northern South Asia, the bank myna (Acridotheres ginginianus) is a species of myna. It resembles the ordinary myna in size and coloration, with the exception of having brick-red bare skin behind the eyes rather of yellow. It resembles the jungle myna somewhat due to its greyer underbelly and the small feather tuft that it has on it. On the plains of northern and central India, they are seen in flocks, frequently in towns and cities. It indicates that their range is expanding into India to the south.

The underside of the bird is lighter grey with delicate pink plumage towards the center of the abdomen, while the head’s sides and crown are black and the upper plumage is slaty grey. The tips of the outer tail feathers are a delicate pinkish buff color, and the wing is black with a wing patch at the base of the primaries. The iris is a deep red color, the legs are yellow, and the bare flesh behind the eye is brick red.

The bank myna’s original range is nearly entirely contained within the Indian subcontinent, extending southward from the lower foothills of the Himalayas and westward from the Indus valley to the Gangetic delta. It is sporadically found in sheltered valleys. Their typical habitat is farmed farmland and open country, but flocks frequently reside in cities, in marketplaces, and at train stations. They are primarily found near open water.

Bank mynas are social birds that forage in groups, reproduce in colonies, and spend the night in trees together. They inhabit in densely populated towns that permit close proximity, perch on animals, and frequently gather scraps from markets and landfills.

Bank mynas use fruits, grains, and insects as food. Similar to the common myna, they occasionally follow grazing animals, gathering ticks or disturbed insects from the animals. They consume crops that are ripening, including pearl millet, sorghum, and grapes. They consume a wide range of insects, some of which are agricultural pests like Achaea janata, whose caterpillars consume castor.

Bank mynas typically breed in May and June, but they can nest from April through July or August. The nest is generally constructed within earthen walls, alongside open wells, on riverbanks, and on embankments. On occasion, they will take advantage of brick wall openings.