Myna birds, particularly the Common Myna, are known for their intelligent, social nature and are found in a wide range of habitats. In many regions, they are considered an invasive species due to their aggressive nature and ability to outcompete native birds for nesting sites. Their breeding habits are well-documented, and understanding them is crucial for anyone interested in their life cycle.
Mating and Nesting Behavior
Mynas are monogamous and often stay in pairs year-round. During the breeding season, which typically runs from March to September in their native range, pairs become highly territorial. They will fiercely defend their nesting site against other mynas and even larger birds. This aggressive behavior is a key reason for their success as an invasive species.
Nest Building: Mynas build messy nests using a variety of materials, including twigs, roots, feathers, and even human trash like plastic and foil. They prefer to nest in tree cavities, but in urban areas, they will readily use artificial structures such as holes in buildings, air conditioners, and gutters.
Clutch Size and Incubation: A typical clutch consists of 4 to 5 eggs. Both parents participate in the incubation, which lasts for 13 to 14 days.
Raising the Chicks
Myna chicks are altricial, meaning they are born blind and helpless. They are completely dependent on their parents for warmth and food.
Feeding: Both the male and female parents share the responsibility of feeding the young. Mynas are omnivores, and their diet for nestlings primarily consists of insects like grasshoppers and earthworms, but they may also feed them fruit. They do not have crops, so they carry food in their beaks.
Fledging: The chicks fledge, or leave the nest, after about 18 to 25 days. However, they will still be fed and protected by their parents for several more weeks until they are fully independent.
Common Myna Breeding Mistakes and Solutions
If you are caring for mynas or their chicks, it's important to be aware of some common issues. A crucial mistake to avoid is providing a high-iron diet, which can lead to a condition called hemochromatosis (iron storage disease). Mynas require a low-iron diet, and commercially available pellets for mynas are often formulated for this purpose.
Another common issue is improper chick care. Baby mynas need to be fed frequently, from sunrise to sunset. They should be fed a protein-rich diet, and a formula with a good mix of fruit, insects, and low-iron pellets is recommended.
Common Mynas are genuine omnivores, consuming culmination, grains, bugs, meals scraps, garbage, chicken eggs, small animals, and nectar. They feed on many unique culmination (which includes fig, apple, pear, strawberry, grape, guava, mango, and papaya) and crops (inclusive of wheat, rice, peanut, lentil, and corn).
Additionally, they consume a variety of bugs in particular beetles, varieties, crickets, moths, butterflies, caterpillars, flies, maggots, bees, wasps, ants, and termites, inclusive of some agricultural pests. Not unusual, Mynas feed largely on the ground, probing the soil with their consignment and hopping sideways in search of insects. Additionally,y they forage in timber and bushes, specially to feed on fruit and nectar. Mynas are especially economically essential pollinators or seed dispersers; however, they also cause harm to commercial fruit and different crops.
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