🐦 Bank Myna (Acridotheres ginginianus) – The Riverbank Specialist of the Indian Plains

The Bank Myna is a social, sleek-looking starling, closely related to the Common Myna but with distinct features and preferences for riverine habitats. Known for nesting in riverbanks and sand embankments, this bird is often seen in towns, farmlands, and riverside habitats, and can occasionally be spotted in the Sundarbans’ human-influenced fringes.

🏷 Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Passeriformes
• Family: Sturnidae
• Genus: Acridotheres
• Species: Acridotheres ginginianus

🏞️ The name “Bank Myna” comes from its nesting habit— excavating holes in earthen riverbanks to lay eggs.

🔬 Morphology & Physical Characteristics

• Size: Medium-sized, about 21–23 cm (8–9 inches) long.
• Weight: Around 90–110 grams.
• Coloration:
  • Ashy-grey body with a slightly glossy black crown and nape.
  • Bright orange-red bare skin around the eyes.
  • Yellow-orange bill and legs.
  • Black-tipped tail and white wing patch, visible in flight.
• Distinct Features:
  • More streamlined and smaller-headed than the Common Myna.
  • Lacks the white eye patch seen in its cousin.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

The Bank Myna is endemic to the Indian subcontinent, thriving in riverine and semi-urban areas.

🌎 Key Habitats:
✅ Northern, Central, and Eastern India, including parts of West Bengal.
✅ Riverbanks, canals, agricultural fields, and towns.
✅ Sundarbans fringe zones – especially near human habitations and embankments.

📌 Preferred Habitat:

• Sandy riverbanks or canal edges – For nesting.
• Fields, railway stations, garbage dumps – For foraging.
• Sundarban delta edges – Occasionally spotted around villages, fisheries, and embankments.

✨ Special Features & Adaptations

1️⃣ Riverbank Nester – Digs horizontal tunnels in soil embankments to lay eggs. 🕳️
2️⃣ Highly Social – Roosts and feeds in large flocks, often with Common Mynas. 🐦
3️⃣ Omnivorous Feeder – Eats grains, insects, kitchen scraps, fruits, and even small vertebrates. 🍚🦗
4️⃣ Vocal Mimic – Communicates with varied calls, squawks, and whistles. 🎶
5️⃣ Adapted to Human Landscapes – Thrives in villages and urban edges. 🏘️

🌿 Presence in the Sundarbans

While the Bank Myna is not a deep forest species, it is frequently seen in the agricultural and inhabited belts surrounding the Sundarbans.

📌 Common in:
✔ Village embankments along rivers and tidal canals.
✔ Open market areas and livestock sheds in the fringe villages.
✔ River crossings and ferry ghats, especially where there is human activity and food waste.

⚠️ Threats & Conservation Challenges

🚨 Riverbank erosion and embankment construction – Destroys nesting sites.
🚨 Urban waste pollution – Changes natural foraging behavior.
🚨 Invasive competition – May compete with other cavity-nesting birds.

✅ Conservation Awareness

✔ Community-based awareness to preserve nesting sites.
✔ Ecotourism initiatives to highlight native bird species.
✔ Waste management in Sundarban villages to protect feeding habitats.

🚨 Conservation Status

📌 IUCN Red List: Least Concern ✅
📌 CITES: Not Listed
📌 Indian Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule IV (Moderate Protection)

Despite a healthy population, its dependency on riverbanks and human-dominated areas makes it vulnerable to rapid landscape changes.

The Bank Myna is a lively, adaptable, and charming bird, showcasing the incredible urban-wildlife interface of the Indian subcontinent. In the Sundarbans, it represents the edge biodiversity, thriving where rivers meet villages. Protecting embankments, nesting zones, and ensuring clean surroundings can help this species continue to coexist harmoniously with humans. 🌾🐦

🌟 Credit Note

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For more information, visit the Bank Myna Wikipedia Page.