The Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) is a bird species that has adapted to live in close proximity to humans across much of the world. Understanding where Common Mynas live provides insights into how this clever and resourceful bird has spread so successfully alongside human populations.
Native Range
The Common Myna is native to southern and southeastern Asia. According to the Handbook of the Birds of the World, the native range of the Common Myna includes:
- Southern Afghanistan
- Pakistan
- India
- Nepal
- Sri Lanka
- Southern China
- Indochina
- Peninsular Malaysia
- The Lesser Sundas
Within this broad region across southern Asia, Common Mynas thrive in open woodlands, cultivated lands, and urban areas. They are found in environments ranging from dense tropical forests to arid grasslands and deserts. Their natural habitat preferences help explain why Common Mynas have adapted so well to living alongside humans in villages, towns, and cities.
Introduced Foreign Populations
Beyond their native Asian range, Common Mynas have been introduced by humans to many other parts of the world. According to the IUCN, they have established breeding populations in over 35 countries across 5 continents. Some of the many places they have been introduced include:
- North America (Canada, United States, Mexico)
- South America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile)
- Africa (South Africa, Kenya, Egypt)
- Australia and Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, etc)
- Middle East (Israel, Iran, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates)
- Europe (Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Greece)
In most of these countries, the Common Myna is an introduced and naturalized species, meaning it was brought there by humans but now reproduces independently and maintains self-sustaining populations in its new environments.
Date and Reasons for Introduction
Records show that in many cases, Common Mynas were intentionally introduced to new countries in the late 1800s and early 1900s for pest control, as they are voracious predators of insects and small animals. Some specific examples include:
- Introduced to Australia in the 1860s to control insect pests on farms and in orchards
- Introduced to New Zealand in the 1870s for similar pest control purposes
- Introduced to Fiji in 1883 to control insects plaguing sugarcane plantations
- Introduced to South Africa in the early 1900s to control locusts and other farm pests
In other cases, such as in North America and Europe, introductions were accidental, resulting from caged pet birds escaping or being released.
Geographic Spread
After initial introductions, Common Mynas have proven highly effective at spreading to new areas within the countries they have been introduced to. For example, in Australia, they have spread from their initial introduction sites to occupy most of the eastern, southern, and southwestern parts of the country. They have also continued to expand their ranges northward and westward across the continent. Similar extensive geographic spread has occurred in their other adopted homes.
Habitats
Common Mynas are able to live in a diverse array of both natural and human-made habitats. As an adaptable generalist species, they can thrive across urban, agricultural, and native environments. Some specifics on habitats occupied include:
Cities and Towns
Common Mynas readily adapt to urban living. They are now abundant city-dwellers across much of their native and introduced ranges. They nest and roost on buildings and feed on refuse and handouts from people.
Farmlands
Common Mynas frequent agricultural areas including croplands, orchards, vineyards, and pastures. They consume insect pests and scavenge spilled grain in these locations.
Rural and Natural Areas
Common Mynas occupy rural areas near human habitation as well as natural habitats such as woodlands, grasslands, desert scrub, and forests in their native and introduced ranges. Their diet includes both human-sourced foods and wild insects, fruits, and small vertebrates.
Coastal Regions
Coastal habitats are readily colonized by Common Mynas. They thrive around fishing harbors, marinas, beaches, and wetlands in coastal zones.
ElevationRanges
Common Mynas are found from sea level up to the lower slopes of some of the world’s tallest mountain ranges. Specific details include:
- Native range: Up to around 2,000 meters elevation in the Himalayas.
- Introduced range: Up to 2,500 meters in Hawaii and over 1,000 meters in the Andes Mountains of South America.
Their ability to tolerate cooler temperatures has allowed them to adapt to higher elevations within their extensive introduced range.
Seasonal Changes
Common Mynas are sedentary across most of their range, meaning they do not migrate significant distances between breeding and wintering grounds. However, some seasonal movement patterns include:
- Nomadic wandering after breeding season to take advantage of locally abundant food sources.
- Downslope movement to lower elevations in winter to escape freezing temperatures and snow at higher elevations in mountainous areas.
- In the northernmost parts of their Asian range, partially migratory movements southward in winter to avoid the harshest weather.
Global Population and Conservation Status
The global population of Common Mynas has not been precisely quantified but is estimated to number well over 100 million individuals worldwide. Population trends have increased in many areas due to the ongoing expansion of their non-native range. However, some localized declines have occurred within parts of their native Asian range. IUCN Red List categorizes the Common Myna as a species of Least Concern.
In areas where they have been introduced, Common Mynas are often viewed negatively as invasive pests that compete with native birds. They are managed in some regions to reduce impacts on local ecology and agriculture. But in most locations, their populations continue to grow and spread into new habitats altered by human activity.
Conclusion
In summary, the Common Myna has become a nearly ubiquitous presence living alongside humans across much of the world’s tropics, subtropics, and mild temperate regions. Their innate adaptability allows them to thrive from busy urban city centers to remote farmlands and nature preserves. Their geographic range spans over 35 countries across Asia, Africa, the Americas, Australia, and Europe. Common Mynas seem likely to continue utilizing their close relationship with human settlements to expand their reach to other new areas in the future.