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Twenty-one Nests Show Common Mynas Using Trees, Houses and Wells

A common myna feeds hungry chicks in a nest
Research · Reproduction & development

A field study in rural Rajasthan, India documented how common mynas used both trees and human structures for nesting. Researchers located 21 nests in the Lohargal region and recorded their positions, materials, dimensions, clutch sizes and outcomes.

The study of common mynas (Acridotheres tristis) was published in 2026 in the International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies. Observations ran from May 2024 to July 2025 in a landscape containing grassland, water bodies, large trees, shrubs, buildings and artificial nest boxes.

Researchers searched the study area with binoculars and located nests by watching birds build, incubate eggs and provision chicks. They recorded the type and condition of each nesting site, the tree species where relevant, the position and height of the nest, and measurements of cavities. Nests were revisited twice a week to check clutch size and outcome.

Nests occurred in trees, houses and wells

Of the 21 nests, eight were placed in tree forks and five on tree branches. Five were associated with houses and three with wells. The authors describe holes as the most common nest type overall, including natural cavities in dead branches, while shallow cup-like structures were also found on branches.

Nests were generally reported between approximately three and nine metres above the ground, and the summary table gives an average height of five metres. Measured nest entrances ranged from five to seven centimetres wide, with a mean of 5.83 centimetres. Cavity depth varied more widely, from 10 to 35 centimetres, with a reported mean of 18 centimetres.

Nests mixed natural and manufactured materials

The nests contained natural and manufactured materials. Twigs and leaves from local trees were accompanied by pieces of plastic and rope.

Clutches averaged 5.1 eggs

Clutches ranged from three to eight eggs, with a reported mean of 5.1 eggs. The paper describes nesting success as approximately 80–85 per cent and says 15–20 per cent of nests were destroyed by adverse weather, particularly rain and storms.

Sources and image credit

  1. Kumari, S., & Singh, M. (2026). Study of nesting ecology of common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) in Lohargal Region, Jhunjhunu (Rajasthan). International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies, 13(3), 66–69.

Image: Common myna feeding nestlings; illustrative photograph, not from the study. Rafin135764 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0. · CC BY 4.0 · Source

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