The bank myna is a myna found in the northern parts of South Asia. It is smaller but similar in colouration to the common myna, only differing in having brick-red naked skin behind the eyes instead of yellow. It is greyer on the underside and in this and in the presence of a slight tuft of feathers bears some resemblance to the jungle myna. They are found in flocks on the plains of northern and central India, often within towns and cities. Their range appears to be extending southwards into India. The name is derived from their habit of nesting almost exclusively in the earthen banks of rivers, where they excavate burrows and breed in large colonies.
Region
South Asia
Typical Environment
Primarily found across the plains of northern and central India, extending into Pakistan and Nepal, with recent southward expansion within India. It frequents river valleys, agricultural landscapes, villages, and cities. Nesting typically occurs in earthen banks along rivers and canals, where birds dig burrows and form large colonies. They also use man-made earthen embankments, quarries, and cuttings. Roosts are communal, often in trees within towns or near water.
Altitude Range
0–1500 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 3/5
Bank mynas excavate nesting burrows in earthen riverbanks and breed in dense colonies, which is how they get their name. They readily adapt to human environments, using canal walls, quarries, and railway cuttings when natural banks are scarce. They are opportunistic feeders and can help control insect pests in agricultural areas.
Some of the wing feathers show green gloss
Bank myna at Hodal, Haryana, India
Temperament
social and bold
Flight Pattern
strong flier with steady wingbeats and short glides
Social Behavior
Highly gregarious, usually seen in flocks that forage together and gather at communal roosts. Breeds in colonies by tunneling into earthen banks, with multiple pairs nesting close together. Pairs are monogamous during the breeding season and show cooperative vigilance near nest sites.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocal and chatty, producing varied chattering calls, whistles, and nasal notes. The repertoire includes scolding calls and softer contact notes used within flocks.
Plumage
Ashy grey-brown body with a glossy black head and upper breast, and a conspicuous white patch in the wing visible in flight. The tail is dark with white tips.
Diet
Omnivorous, feeding on insects (beetles, grasshoppers, larvae), grains, fruits, and human food scraps. It often follows ploughs to pick exposed invertebrates and forages around markets and refuse areas. It may glean ticks and insects near livestock and opportunistically takes small vertebrates or eggs when available.
Preferred Environment
Forages mostly on the ground in open fields, along riverbanks, and in urban spaces such as roadsides and marketplaces. Frequently feeds near watercourses and in cultivated lands where prey is abundant.
