Sulawesi myna facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sulawesi myna |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Basilornis
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| Species: |
celebensis
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The Sulawesi myna (Basilornis celebensis) is a cool bird from the starling family. It lives only on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. You can find it in warm, wet forests that are not too high up.
Contents
What Does the Sulawesi Myna Look Like?
The Sulawesi myna is a medium-sized bird. It grows to be about 23 to 27 centimeters (9 to 11 inches) long. This bird is mostly shiny black. It has a special crest on its head that always stands up, and the male's crest is bigger!
Special Features of the Sulawesi Myna
This myna has white patches on the sides of its face and throat. Around its eye, there's a ring of bluish-black skin. Its beak is a light bluish-green color, and its legs are yellowish. Young Sulawesi mynas look a bit different; they are chocolate brown.
What Sounds Does the Sulawesi Myna Make?
The Sulawesi myna makes many different sounds. These include grunts, high-pitched whistles, squeaks, and warbles. One of its calls is a series of whistles that go down in pitch. Another call sounds like "meeow" and is a bit nasal. When it makes this sound, it often thrusts its head forward and fluffs up its back feathers.
Where Does the Sulawesi Myna Live?
This myna lives only in the humid forests of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. It prefers areas like forest edges, clearings, and patches of woodland. Sometimes, you might even spot it in untouched forests.
Sulawesi Myna's Island Homes
The Sulawesi myna also lives on smaller islands nearby. These include Lembeh, Muna, and Buton. These islands are mostly lowlands. Here, the myna lives in grassy areas with evergreen trees.
How Does the Sulawesi Myna Behave?
The Sulawesi myna usually looks for food high up in the forest canopy. It often hangs out in pairs or small family groups. Sometimes, you might see a single bird by itself.
Social Life and Diet of the Myna
Young Sulawesi mynas might join groups of other birds, like the fiery-browed starling. This myna often eats with other fruit-eating birds too. Its diet is mostly fruit (about 44%) and insects (about 52%). It also eats a small amount of tiny animals.
Movement and Reproduction
This bird does not migrate, meaning it doesn't fly to different places for seasons. It probably moves around the forest to find trees with ripe fruits. Not much is known about how these birds raise their young.
Is the Sulawesi Myna in Danger?
Even though the Sulawesi myna only lives on Sulawesi, it is quite common. Scientists haven't counted the exact number of these birds. They also don't know if the population is growing or shrinking. However, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says it is a "least concern" species. This means they don't think it's in danger of disappearing anytime soon.
