The Indian Subcontinent provides suitable habitats to various species of birds for residing and nesting. Mynas are no exception in this regard. Different species of Mynas have been recorded in India. They belong to the kingdom, Animalia; phylum, Chordata; class, Aves; order, Passeriformes; and family, Sturnidae. These Mynas are described below.
Bank Myna
The distribution of Bank Myna ranges from Indus valley in the west to the Gangetic delta in the east. They have also been recorded south of the lower foothills of the Himalayas. This bird is almost restricted to the Indian subcontinent. The bird has slaty grey upper body and lighter grey underside. The skin of the bird is black on the crown. The naked skin behind the eye is brick red and the iris is deep red. The centre of the abdomen is pale pink. The bird has black colored wings. There is a wing patch at the base of the primaries. The bird has yellow-colored legs. If the bird has browner head and neck, then it is a young Bank Myna. It is difficult to tell the sexes apart in the field.
Common Myna
Common Myna is native to India. This bird has brown-colored body. It has a black hooded head and bright yellow colored bill and legs. The bird has a bare yellow patch behind the eye and a white patch on the outer primaries. It has white colored wing lining on the underside. The male and female Mynas are known to be similar. A Common Myna does not have any specific breeding season and its breeding location ranges from sea-level to 3000 m in the Himalayas.
Jungle Myna
Jungle Myna is a common resident breeder in India. The bird is grey colored, with its head region and wings being comparatively darker. There is a forehead tuft present on the head of the bird. Its bill and strong legs are bright yellow in color. Male and female Jungle Mynas are known to be similar. When the bird is a juvenile, it is browner.
Pied Myna
Pied Myna has mainly been traced in the Gangetic plains and stretches south to the Krishna River. It has black colored upper body, throat and breast. The cheek, lores, wing coverts and rump are white in color. The bird has yellowish bill and its base is reddish in color. The bare skin around the eye is reddish. Male and female Pied Mynas are known to be similar in plumage. The breeding season of Pied Myna in India ranges from March to September.
