Acridotheres javanicus Cabanis, 1851

Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum/Division: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Sturnidae |
Genus: | Acridotheres |
Species: | A. javanicus |
Common Names: | Javan Myna, White-vented Myna |
Status: | Common resident. Introduced. |
Description
The Javan Myna originates from Java and was introduced in Singapore via the cage bird trade. The species was established in Singapore since 1925 and is now the most abundant bird locally. It is clad in grey plumage. Two distinct white patches can be clearly seen on the underside of the wings during flight.
Size: 24–25 cm
Localities
Found throughout Singapore and its offshore islands.
Locality Map
General Biology
The Javan Myna is widespread in all terrestrial habitats except the forest interior. They form communal roosts in urban areas and have become a nuisance because of their loud, noisy squabbling when settling down to roost. Their droppings litter roadsides and parking lots, where they roost in the trees. They regularly indulge in noisy fights.
They are not fussy about where they make their nest, which can be in a tree hole, or under the eaves of houses or in expansion gaps in bridges and MRT lines. These flexibilities in their diet and nesting habits allow them to be the most successful species in Singapore, out-competing its larger relative, the Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis), which is no longer found in large flocks. They are also attracted to human activities, especially when such activities stir up insects that they can easily snap.
This is one of the few species of birds that have been reported to indulging in anting - as a means of feather maintenance (Wee, 2008). In fact it had been actually photographed anting. A leucistic Javan Myna was even spotted anting within the grounds of the Singapore Botanical Gardens. Normally leucistic birds will not be accepted by others of the same species. However, one case was reported that it was fully accepted by members of its flock, as was a pair of partially leucisitc birds at Pasir Ris, sighted in January 2012.
They are regularly hunted by raptors, like the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), but they are not at all timid, as has been docuented confronting a monitor lizard.
Diet
The Javan Mynas have a varied diet, including food scraps left behind by humans. Some individuals can even hop onto a tree trunk and hunt insects under the bark, or forage near the coast, like waders. They regularly follow grass cutters to catch displaced insects; as well as wildboars and water buffaloes, as reported from Malaysia. In terms of animal prey, they take gecko, dragonflies and centipedes, among others.
They have been known to eat overripe fruits of the Madras Thorn (Pithecellobium dulce) that caused them stagger around in a typsy manner. Fruits of noni (Morinda cirtifolia), White-stemmed Button Vine (Cissus hastata), Claoxylon indicum as well as nectar of the flowers of the umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla), African Tulip (Spathodea campanulata), Golden Penda (Xanthostemon chrysanthus) are part of their diet.
Records
Javan Mynas had apparently descended from cage-birds originating in Java (Chasen, 1925). A feral population has been present in Singapore since at least 1925. By the mid 1930s, it was well established in a few localities on the edge of town but by no means numerous (Gibson-Hill, 1952). A few pairs had established themselves before the war; in recent years, has grown more plentiful (Gibson-Hill, 1949). By 1952, still not yet reported from any of the off-lying islands (Gibson-Hill, 1952).
References
Chasen, F. N., 1925. Further remarks on the birds of Singapore Island. Singapore Naturalist, 5: 71–73.
Gibson-Hill, C. A., 1949. An annotated checklist of the birds of Malaya. Bulletin of the Raffles Museum, 20: 5–299.
Gibson-Hill, C. A., 1952. Ornithological notes from the Raffles Museum, Nos. 15–22. Bulletin of the Raffles Museum, 24: 220–343.
Wang, L. K., 2011. Mynas. Pp. 388–389. In: Ng, P. K. L., R. T. Corlett & H. T. W. Tan (editors). Singapore Biodiversity. An Encyclopedia of the Natural Environment and Sustainable Development. Editions Didier Millet, Singapore. 552 pp.
Wang, L. K. & C. J. Hails, 2007. An annotated checklist of the birds of Singapore. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, Supplement 15: 1–179.
Wee, Y. C., 2008. Anting in Singapore birds. Nature in Singapore, 1:23–25.
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Related Documents
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Social behaviour and role of the communal roost as an 'information-centre' in captive White-vented Mynas, Acridotheres javanicus (Cabanis).
Wang, L. K. (Dec 1991) -
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Habitats
Related Places
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Admiralty Park
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Bukit Batok Nature Park
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Changi Beach Park
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Changi Point Coastal Walk
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Changi Village
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Changi Walking Trail
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Chinese Garden
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Hindhede Nature Park
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Labrador Nature Reserve
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Lim Chu Kang
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Lorong Halus
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Pasir Ris Park
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Pulau Tekong
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Pulau Ubin
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Sentosa
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Singapore Botanic Gardens
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Southern Ridges
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Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve