Listen to the common myna
Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.
About the common myna
The common myna is a bird in the family Sturnidae (order Passeriformes). Its conservation status on the IUCN Red List is “least concern”. Adults have a wingspan of about 38 cm and weigh around 7 g.
What does the common myna sound like?
Bird vocalisations are usually divided into songs – longer, often complex phrases used to defend territory and attract mates, sung mostly by males in the breeding season – and calls: short, simple sounds for contact, alarm, begging or flight.
The recordings here are labelled as song, call and flight call. Listen for differences in rhythm, pitch and repetition – the spectrum display makes it easy to see whether a sound is a pure whistle (a thin line), a harsh call (a broad band) or a trill (rapid repeated marks).
From Wikipedia
The common myna or Indian myna (Acridotheres tristis), sometimes spelled mynah, is a bird in the family Sturnidae, native to Asia. An omnivorous open woodland bird with a strong territorial instinct, the common myna has adapted extremely well to urban environments.
The range of the common myna is increasing at such a rapid rate that in 2000 the IUCN Species Survival Commission declared it one of the world's most invasive species and one of only three birds listed among "100 of the World's Worst Invasive Species" that pose a threat to biodiversity, agriculture and human interests. In particular, the species poses a serious threat to the ecosystems of Australia, where it was named "The Most Important Pest/Problem" in 2008.
More from the family Sturnidae
Common starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Violet-backed starling
Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Spotless starling
Sturnus unicolor
Brahminy starling
Sturnia pagodarum
Indian pied myna
Gracupica contra
Superb starling
Lamprotornis superbus
White-shouldered starling
Sturnia sinensis
Cape starling
Lamprotornis nitens
Red-winged starling
Onychognathus morio
Frequently asked questions
What does a common myna sound like?
You can hear 6 recordings of the common myna on this page, including its song, call and flight call. Bird vocalisations are usually divided into songs – longer, often complex phrases used to defend territory and attract mates, sung mostly by males in the breeding season – and calls: short, simple sounds for contact, alarm, begging or flight.
Is the common myna endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the common myna as “least concern”.
What family does the common myna belong to?
The common myna (Acridotheres tristis) belongs to the family Sturnidae in the order Passeriformes.
Sources & credits
- Common myna-Acridotheres tristis by Vinay bhat – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Call, song · Beaconsfield, Council of the City of Sydney, New South… by James Ray – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Call, song · Beaconsfield, Council of the City of Sydney, New South… by James Ray – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Song · Beaconsfield, Council of the City of Sydney, New South Wales by James Ray – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Call, flight call, song · Beaconsfield, Council of the City of Sydney, New South… by James Ray – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Call, song · Collins St at Botany Rd (near Beaconsfield), Council of… by James Ray – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Wikidata Q116667 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Common myna – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo by Tisha Mukherjee – CC BY-SA 4.0