Rothschild's Mynah

Range:
Bubunan area of the island of Bali (on the northern coast of the island)

Habitat:
Dry savannah woodlands & scrub forest

Size:
Length: 25 cm; Weight: 85-90 g

Young:
2-5 eggs

Incubation:
~2 weeks

Diet (wild):
Omnivore: fruit, seeds, insects, worms, caterpillars, ants, and other invertebrates

Diet (zoo):
low iron pellets, produce, halved grapes, chopped greens, and meal worms

Lifespan (captivity):
~10-25 years.

Status:
Critically Endangered and CITES Appendix I

Threats:
Habitat destruction, excessive capture for the cage-bird trade, and introduced species

Anatomy/Physiology:
They are snowy white with bare blue skin around the eyes. Their wings and tail are black tipped and they have a crest of white feathers that can be raised at will. Males have a longer crest that trails over the shoulders.

Social/Family units:
They congregate in flocks of about 20 during the dry season. In breeding season they live in pairs because they become highly territorial.

Habits:
When they are pair-bonding they will preen each other to form a tight bond. They nest in woodpecker holes in trees.

Communication:
Their vocalization is varied and complex; the common call is known as chatter-song. They also use head bobbing while making various clucking sounds.

Defensive/Aggressive behavior:
Fewer than 20 to 35 left in the wild. Behavior not exhibited.

Prey items:
fruit, seeds, insects, worms, caterpillars, ants, and other invertebrates

Predators:
snakes, monitor lizards, monkeys, and birds of prey

Locomotion:
Flight

Activity:
Diurnal

Interesting story / facts:
Mynahs are able to mimic human voices. The Rothschild (Bali) mynah has become an educational symbol of conservation on Bali and for all of Indonesia.

It was discovered in 1912 by Walter Rothschild, so it is a relatively new species. There are less than 12 individuals left in the wild.