Starlings and mynah birds, are they related?

Here, in North America, we have starlings.  They were introduced some 170 years ago and have pretty much spread across the continent.  We consider them to be an invasive species because of the negative effect they have on other bird species.

While visiting Hawaii a few weeks ago, I noticed that there were populations of the common mynah bird on every island we visited.  I understand that they are an invasive species as well, arriving about 160 years ago by some well-meaning individuals.  In the same manner, they have spread across the land and are causing similar havoc.

It turns out that these two bird species have more in common than just being invasive and released to the detriment of native species.  They belong to the Sturnidea, a group of birds that includes other starling and mynah species.  

Both species share a number of characteristics.  They are noisy, use cavities to build nests, are gregarious, and aggressive towards other species.  They are both fond of insects and berries.  One of their most notable features is that they possess an incredible ability to vocalize and copy other sounds that they hear.  

Their invasive quality arises from being hardy competitors for foods eaten by native species, their fondness for breeding in cavities (almost any hole will do), and their aggression towards other birds.  They will drive other wildlife out of their territories, destroy the nests of other birds, and kill the young.  Their ability to eat a wide variety of foods (more than just berries and insects) allows them to survive in conditions that may be fatal to other species.

Now that these birds are established, there is no way to eradicate them.  It is likely that they will become the dominant species in an area as time marches on.  So the next time you see a mynah bird, think of it as an attractive variant of starling.  It won't seem so attractive after that.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com