Javan Myna

Acridotheres javanicus

They are incredible mimics, able to replicate human speech, car alarms, and the calls of other bird species with astonishing accuracy.

Scientific name: Acridotheres javanicus
Taxonomy: Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Sturnidae › Acridotheres
IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable
Population trend: decreasing
Biome: urban
Habitat: Cities, urban parks, agricultural fields, and open grasslands.
Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on insects, fruit, seeds, and human food waste.
Range: Indonesia (Java and Bali), Singapore (introduced), Malaysia (introduced), Taiwan (introduced)
Size: 21-25 cm in length, wingspan of approximately 35-40 cm
Lifespan: 8-12 years
Active: diurnal
Threats: Severe overexploitation for the domestic and international caged bird trade, combined with localized habitat loss in its native range.
Safe to approach?: Harmless. Javan Mynas are highly habituated to humans and may approach closely looking for food. Maintain a respectful distance of 1-2 meters and do not feed them, as human food is bad for their health. In the rare event of a scratch or peck, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water.

The Javan myna ( Acridotheres javanicus ), also known as the white-vented myna , is a species of myna. It is a member of the starling family.

Photo: Jan Ebr & Ivana Ebrová, CC-BY, via iNaturalist