Bali Mynah

This truly beautiful soft bill is sometimes called a mynah, a starling or a grackle, which can be rather confusing. It is very attractive, easily tamed and simple to feed. It may be housed with other similar sized soft bills with safety.

Description:

Size: 25 cm (10 in)

COCK:

Head (including crest): white. Body: white. A wide area of blue-green hare skin surrounds eyes, covers lures and extends to sides of neck. Beak: creamy-grey. Legs: pale grey. Black tips on wings and tail.

HEN:

Similar, but smaller and slimmer.

Diet: (Softbill)

This species enjoys proprietary brand mynah pellets. Diced fruit of all kind should be given and may be coated with coarse grade insectile mixture. Raw meat is also appreciated.

This hardy bird thrives in a large aviary with a shelter which does not have to be heated. It can withstand quite low temperatures. It loves to bathe and takes a great pride in its appearance, regularly grooming its white feathers.

Breeding:

Plenty of cover should be provided to encourage pairs to make an attempt at breeding. Although few captive breeding have been recorded, there is evidence that this specie does go to nest if the conditions are suitable.

A selection of nest sites should be available including boxes, logs and large baskets filled with straw. Live food is necessary if young are produced.

Bali Mynah Information

• The bird is found only in the island of Bali of Indonesia.
• The bird faces a severe extinction threat and is mentioned in the list of endangered species of CITES of Appendix one. In the year 2001 the bird count came down to mere 6 birds.
• Presently, the bird is only found in the Bali Barat National Park with an estimation of about 1000 birds. In fact the national forest has been developed only to preserve the bird specie.
• The primary reason behind the steady decrease of the number of bird species is rapid urbanization of the Bali Island. Poaching and illegal bird trade has further contributed to the process of extinction of the bird.
• The number of illegal captive bred birds whose population is 3 to 4 times more than those that exist in wild.
• The bird breeding in private hands is strictly controlled. Only few aviculturists are given the permission to breed the bird as a part of the program for the conservation of the specie.
• In wild the bird is exclusively found in the Bali Barat national Park. In the park the bird distribution is mainly concentrated in Tegal Bunder which consists of a mixed habitat of savanna grass lands and forests.
• The bird is very friendly in nature. During the non breeding season, the birds stay in flocks of 30 to 60 in number. During the breeding season the male bird becomes quite aggressive.
• Pairs have the habit of cleaning and preening each others feathers.
• The bali mynah builds nest in tree cavities.