Fun Facts!

Bali conservationists are trying to show people ways to help protect their native species. Park officials are placing nest-boxes inside the park so that the Bali Mynahs can use those boxes and not have to compete with the island’s Black-winged Starling for the nests.

Bali Mynah

Leucopsar rothschildi

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Female and male Bali mynahs look alike, having beautiful white feathers, black tipped wings and tails, and a bright powder blue crescent of skin around the eyes. Their heads are topped off by a lacy white crest of feathers. They are about the size of cardinals.

HABITAT

Bali mynahs are found only on the Indonesian island of Bali in the Indian Ocean. Today, approximately 60 wild Bali mynahs live in a small area of Bali Barat National Park, in the northwestern corner of the island. Bali mynahs inhabit open woodland and savannah where they are most active in the early morning and at dusk.

DIET IN THE WILD

Bali mynahs are omnivores. They eat plants and other animals. The menu includes fruit, seeds, insects, worms, caterpillars, ants, and other invertebrates.

BEHAVIOR

These are very friendly birds. They whistle and squawk repetitively, often bobbing their head up and down at the same time. Mynahs flock together during the dry season on Bali, and vocalizing is very important at this time.They nest in tree cavities, and the males and females work together to hatch the eggs and raise the young. Young mynahs leave the nest after about three weeks.

STATUS IN THE WILD / CONSERVATION EFFORTS

As the only native bird on Bali, this animal is endangered and protected. At one point, only about ten wild Bali mynahs remained in Indonesia. Bali mynahs are among the rarest birds in the world. The island of Bali has been heavily deforested, greatly reducing the available space for the mynahs to make their nests. But the main threat to Bali mynahs is the illegal pet trade.

LIFE SPAN

It is unknown how long they can live in the wild; they can live up to 25 years in captivity.