Crested myna
Acridotheres cristatellus
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Photo credit: 57Andrew (licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Acridotheres cristatellus – Crested myna
Description:
Habitat:
Origin and Distribution:
Impacts:
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
How could it get here?
Prevent Spread
Current legislative position (Entered into Force on 7th August 2025): This species must not intentionally be brought into the Union; kept; bred; transported to, from or within the United Kingdom, unless for the transportation to facilities in the context of eradication; placed on the market; used or exchanged; permitted to reproduce, grown or cultivated; or released into the environment.
For further queries, you can contact the Invasive Non Native Species (INNS) Team in the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on 028 9056 9558 or Email: invasivespecies@daera-ni.gov.uk
Acridotheres cristatellus – Crested myna
Description:
- A jet-black body with orange/yellow legs
- Flashing white wing patches that are visible in flight and white tail feather ends
- Possesses a bristly crest just above base of its pale-yellow bill, giving it a signature mohawk-like appearance
- Typically its eyes are a vivid orange colour throughout the iris
- Adults typically 25-27cm tall and weigh 102-120g
- Males are slightly larger than females and possess a more pronounced crest than females
Habitat:
- Inhabits both urban and rural areas
- Within cities it can be found in gardens, parks, eaves of buildings, along roads and alleys
- In rural areas it can be seen on agricultural land, orchards, farmyards, grasslands, near livestock, and at the edge of forests
Origin and Distribution:
- Native to Southeastern and Central China, and Southeast Asia
- Also established in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Argentina
- In Europe it has established in Lisbon Portugal, with evidence of moving up towards Porto and east towards Spain
- Assessments show Crested Myna could establish in all EU Member states, and NI/UK
Impacts:
- High-risk of competition with native species for food and nesting holes. Also recorded attacking and driving away native species
- The Crested myna is omnivorous, with a diet consisting of insects, fruits, and seeds and is therefore considered a crop pest
- It can aid in the spread of invasive plant species and transmission of parasites and diseases
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
- It is not currently present in Northern Ireland
How could it get here?
- It is a popular cage bird, therefore subsequent escapees or intentional release from private collections are a key pathway
- There is a possibility the species could escape from botanical gardens/zoos
- Another likely pathway is by accidental stowaways arriving on transport, particularly on ferries
- Natural dispersal could also pose as a possible pathway
Prevent Spread
- Prevention via enforcing the IAS (Enforcement and Permitting) Order (Northern Ireland) ensuring that Acridotheres cristatellus is not introduced to Northern Ireland
- Reporting any sightings so that Rapid Response can be instigated
- Be Pet Wise
- You can help by reporting any sightings:@ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Current legislative position (Entered into Force on 7th August 2025): This species must not intentionally be brought into the Union; kept; bred; transported to, from or within the United Kingdom, unless for the transportation to facilities in the context of eradication; placed on the market; used or exchanged; permitted to reproduce, grown or cultivated; or released into the environment.
For further queries, you can contact the Invasive Non Native Species (INNS) Team in the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on 028 9056 9558 or Email: invasivespecies@daera-ni.gov.uk