THE MYNAHS OF THE URBAN JUNGLE - II

THE JUNGLE MYNAHS

To navigate to the previous post in this series, click here (Link).

THE MYNAHS OF THE URBAN JUNGLE - I

THE JUNGLE MYNAHS

Small yet feisty, the Jungle Mynah or Acridotheres fuscus is one species that you can commonly spot in most parts of Bangalore. They can be easily identified by the shrieking sounds that they make, usually in the mornings or just prior to the sunset when they seem to be most active. Placed in the family Sturnidae, under the Order Passeriformes, these little creatures are natives to southern Asia. They can be distinguished from their relatives, the Hill Mynah from the tuft of feathers on the top of their beaks which is in the form of spikes. Generally found in group of up to four individuals, they build their nests in tree holes in the countryside and in cracks and crevices in buildings in the cities that they inhabit. They are grey in color with distinct white markings and tail tips that are visible when they fly. The beak, legs and the iris are bright yellow. The South Indian race however has whitish blue iris. Presently classified as Least Concern in the IUCN list, they are omnivores which feed on grains, fruits and insects.

The pictures in this post were clicked on a Sunday morning in August in NGV, Kormangala.

To navigate to the next post in this series, click here (Link).

MORE BIRDS AT GOA VELHA

GOA DIARIES: BIRDING AT GOA VELHA - PART 2

April is that time of the year when most species of birds in Goa breed. Since my visit coincided with the breeding season, I did get a few snaps of the avians as they were occupied in various activities relating to passing on their genes. Bhabi's mom spotted an Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) from the kitchen. I followed this beautiful bird as she went to the road, collecting small twigs and deposited them into a tree hollow right at the entrance of the home. After reading about them on Wikipedia, I concluded that it was a female and she would lay her eggs within a week. Besides, I also saw a pair of Jungle Mynahs (Acridotheres fuscus) catching insects and feeding it to their young who were holed up, quite literally in a coconut tree. In every 15 minutes, one of the two parents would fly back to the nest with some food - usually an insect in their beak for the chicks to eat. Unlike the Robins, both the male and the female Jungle Mynah chip in while raising the young ones.

Oriental Magpie Robin

Jungle Mynah

Aaar - Paar: A hole in the coconut tree

For more on the Goa trip:
(1) Life is a Beach (Link)
(2) Birds at Goa Velha (Link)