by Mike Rose

Created on: October 23, 2008

Tips For Choosing a Mynah Bird.

There are several different types of Mynah bird distributed around the world. Here in Thailand, where I live, only 12km from the border with Myanmar, it is common to see flocks of this starling like bird every day. However the birds seen in flocks and visiting my garden are common Asian Mynahs, a creamy brown bird with a yellow beak. They gather in noisy social groups squabbling over food and territory but are not noted for their mimicry.

The Hill Mynah, the bird identified by its vivid black plumage, bright yellow jowls and beak, is the bird commonly found in pet shops around the world. This bird is sold because of its ability to mimic other birds, sounds or even the human voice. It is becoming an endangered species here in Thailand because of this ability.

Here the Thais frequently set traps for the Hill Mynah, hoping to catch a female bird that is then placed in another cage which has an entrance trap. The trapper hopes that the calls of the female will attract male birds for mating and subsequent egg production. There is also a cross border trade between Thailand and Mynmar in mature breeding birds. A quality bird of breeding age will fetch around $50 US.

One of my Thai friends has a farm that runs parallel with the Thai/Mynmar border although his family do farm the land their main income is from the breeding of captive birds which includes other species besides Mynahs.

Recently when I was visiting the farm my friend showed me a nest of young Mynah chicks. There was no sign of an adult bird and when I questioned this he explained that once the birds are a few days old he hand rears them. He went on to say that this is to get the birds familiar with human contact and ready for sale. Sales happen as soon as the birds have attained their adult plumage. The price he usually gets for a young Mynah is around $15, but it is a case of supply and demand, so this will fluctuate.

Any potential buyer of a Hill Mynah needs to be sure that the bird is healthy and that it has not been illegally imported into their home country. A good way to ensure the source of the bird is to obtain one that comes from a licenced captive breeding programme.

A dark glossy coat, brilliant yellow cheek jowls are essential and indicators of good health. It is also important to know the age of the bird. Mynahs are at their best for mimicry when they are young.

The bird is naturally inquisitive and seems to enjoy human contact. They are easy to feed living mostly on tropical fruits in their natural habitat, they will also eat seed mixes in captivity. They can be messy feeders and seem to enjoy throwing the contents of their cage around.

Mynahs do make good pets requiring little physical attention so by providing a clean, well ventilated, warm environment and stimulating company you should be rewarded with an interesting companion who is capable of brightening anyone's day.

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