Tropical Audubon Society

South Florida’s Voice of Conservation

Common Hill Myna is without question in severe decline in Miami-Dade and may be close to extirpation. Poaching is among the suspected causes for the decline. The last eBird report was two near The Falls shopping center on 10/20/17 (http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40026530). I must add that birders, including locals, regularly confuse Common Myna with Common Hill Myna, so the validity of this and other eBird reports is questionable, especially when photos are not embedded in checklists.

I can confirm that those were indeed Common Hill Mynas since I was the one who posted the sighting. The birds were vocalizing, sitting on the top of a tree along the US 1 Bus Lane and approximately 147th Street. I used to work in a pet shop back in 1982 and they used to sell them there so I'm pretty familiar with them. Also had a pair nesting on a palm tree in my house a few years ago on Killian and 94th Avenue.

Well, I really hope they make it. Established exotics make South Florida a very special place to bird in our state.

The only part that confuses me is the name which you say is the Common Hill Mynah..In the Sibley's Guide to Birds I see the name Hill Mynah listed beside it's drawing without the word Common in it....Below this drawing, is the drawing and name of the Common Mynah, a predominantly brown (body) bird, whereas the former is predominantly black...But I have no confusion in the I.D. of the bird itself..Approximately 5-6 months ago, I very clearly saw two Hill Myna's in the Brandsmart parking lot on US 1 and near southwest 160 Street...I got great looks at them flying in the open for a long distance across the parking lot...I had my binoculars..These birds were all black except for their field marks; the yellow wattles and white wing patch..The bill was bright orange and legs were bright yellow..I am 100% certain of the I.D. despite not having a photo...Two to three years ago, I actually had two of these birds feeding on my backyard mangos. I took multiple photos of them, which I posted on Facebook at that time...Gorgeous birds!

I see online the name was updated from Hill mynah to Common Hill Mynah..I was just not aware of that...and was used to hearing it's former name..

Hey Jeanette,

There was a split in recent years with Hill Myna being divvied up into Common and Indian Hill Myna.

Alex

Indian Hill Myna is now known as Southern Hill Myna. It's found in southern India and Sri Lanka.

My girlfriend spotted 3 common hill mynas at Fairchild last week. They were in flight and she did not see them land. She is a capable birder and a previous owner of a hill myna, so she is readily able to identify this bird. I personally would really like to see one of these feral birds while they are still around, so if anyone knows very specifically where they are known to roost, please let me know. My E-mail address is benmachado@utexas.edu

I noticed a mated pair has been located and recorded on eBird in South Miami. Went to check them out on Global Big Day. I love their crazy vocalizations. Took me just seconds to locate them. It was very fun listening to them call to each other. The guy who runs a gym that they like to perch on seems to really like them too.

3 months ago or less saw a group of 4 checking out a woodpecker nest in north miami

I saw 4 today in Cutler Bay. Just pecking around in the grass while I was in line at the Pollo tropical drive thru. I moved here 2 years ago and that was the first I’ve seen them. I had to google search what they were since the merlin bird ID app didn’t generate them as an option. Pretty neat I thought they were going to be a migratory species just passing by.

I spotted a myna today by Miller and 97th Ave. I did not realize we had them in South Florida. I'm originally from Miami but lived abroad in New Zealand for 2 years and became familiar with their native birds. Very cool to spot one in my home town!