Common Mynas in Darebin

Common indian myna bird

Common Mynas (Acridotheres tristis) were introduced to Victoria in the 1860s to control garden pests. Instead of solving the problem, they became one. These invasive birds have spread rapidly across eastern Australia and are now common in Darebin’s streets, parks, and gardens.

Why are Common Mynas a problem?

Common Mynas are highly adaptable and thrive in cities and suburbs. They can harm native wildlife by:

  • Competing for nesting sites: they take over tree hollows and nesting spaces, pushing out native birds and small animals.
  • Attacking other birds: mynas can be aggressive and may destroy eggs or kill chicks of native species.
  • Feeding on almost anything: their diet includes insects, fruit, pet food, food scraps, eggs and young birds, helping them survive and spread easily.

What can I do to deter Common Mynas?

With small changes, you can make your garden less attractive to Common Mynas and Noisy Miners, and more welcoming to smaller native birds:

Make your garden wildlife-friendly

  • Reduce large areas of open lawn
  • Plant dense, indigenous shrubs for small bird shelter and nesting
  • Remove introduced plants (like palms) that Mynas use for food and shelter

You can book a free Gardens for Wildlife visit for personalised advice.

Remove food sources

  • Don’t leave pet food outside
  • Keep bins closed and clean
  • Avoid feeding birds (this attracts aggressive species and can harm wildlife health)

Block nesting sites

  • Install gutter guards to prevent Mynas nesting in roofs and gutters

Common Myna vs Noisy Miner: what’s the difference?

It’s important to tell these two birds apart: the Common Myna is an introduced species, while the Noisy Miner is a protected native species.

Common Myna bird on the left with brown and black feathers. Noisy Miner bird on the left with grey feathers.

Feature Common Myna Noisy Miner
Origin Introduced species Native species (protected under Wildlife Act 1975)
Appearance Brown body, bright yellow eye patch, white wing flashes Grey body, black cap, yellow eye patch
Call Loud, varied squawks and whistles Constant chattering and piping sounds
Diet Opportunistic: insects, fruit, scraps, pet food, eggs, chicks Nectar, insects, and fruit
Behaviour Invasive and aggressive Native but highly territorial

Why are Noisy Miners a problem if they are a native species?

Although Noisy Miners are native, large populations can still reduce bird diversity. In high numbers, they can drive away smaller birds like superb fairy-wrens and spotted pardalotes.

Changes such as clearing native vegetation and creating open lawns have helped them thrive. 

Because of this, Noisy Miners are recognised as a key threatening process under national environmental law (EPBC Act 1999).

Learn more about Noisy Miners

For more on how Noisy Miners affect urban birdlife and what you can do:

Read Birds in the 'burbs' by Dr Jacinta Humphrey(PDF, 3MB)

This research explains how urban design influences bird diversity and provides practical actions to support smaller native species.

What is Darebin doing?

Darebin is taking a long-term, nature-based approach to support native wildlife and reduce invasive species. Our work includes:

  • Protecting and restoring conservation areas
  • Rewilding parks to create safer habitat for native species
  • Supporting residents through the Gardens for Wildlife program

By improving habitat across Darebin, we make it easier for native birds to thrive, and harder for invasive species like Common Mynas to dominate.

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