Black-winged myna facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-winged myna |
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The black-winged myna is a special kind of starling bird. It is also known as the black-winged starling or the white-breasted starling. This bird lives only in Indonesia. You can find it on islands like Java and Bali. There are a few types, or subspecies, of this myna. Some live in different parts of Java, and one lives on Bali.
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What Does the Black-Winged Myna Look Like?
The black-winged myna is a small bird. It is about 23 centimeters (9 inches) long. Its feathers are very striking! The head, chest, back, and rump are white. Its tail and parts of its wings are shiny black. The tips of its tail and some wing parts are also white.
Around its eyes, the skin is bare and yellow. Its beak is yellow, getting a bit darker near its head. Male and female mynas look the same. Young birds look like adults, but their head and back feathers are grey.
Where Do Black-Winged Mynas Live?
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These mynas live in different places. They like tropical dry forests and shrubland. You can also find them in grassy areas. They live from sea level up to high mountains.
For a long time, they lived well near people. They moved into fruit farms, gardens, and towns.
How Do Black-Winged Mynas Live?
The black-winged myna eats many different things. They enjoy fruit, nectar from flowers, and insects. They usually feed in small groups or in pairs. You can see them eating both in trees and on the ground.
At night, they gather in groups to sleep. Sometimes, they even sleep with other types of starlings. They have a special time of year for having babies. This breeding season changes depending on where they live. For example, in west Java, they breed from March to May. In east Bali, it's usually around June.
They seem to stay with one partner. They build their nests in holes. These holes can be in rocks or in trees. They line their nests with small twigs.
Why Are Black-Winged Mynas in Danger?
The black-winged myna used to be a very common bird. But now, their numbers have dropped a lot. The main reason is that people catch them. They are caught to be sold as pet birds. Many collectors want these beautiful birds.
In recent years, fewer birds are being caught. This is because they are becoming very rare in the wild. Scientists believe their population has gone down by at least 80% in the last 10 years. Changes in farming methods might also be a problem for them.
Scientists are also worried about different types of black-winged mynas mixing. This happens when pet birds escape and breed with wild ones. This can cause them to lose their unique genetic differences.
There was a small group of these mynas living in Singapore. But that group is now thought to be gone. Good news is that people are trying to help them! A special program has started to breed them. This program is at the Cikananga Wildlife Rescue Center in West Java. By 2012, they had raised 200 baby birds. Some of these birds were released into the wild. Local villages helped by making nest boxes for them.
There are plans to release more mynas into safe areas. One place is the Gunung Halimun Salak National Park. Another is the Rawadanau Nature Reserve. These efforts are very important to help the black-winged myna survive!
