Shalik Wonderful Natural Moments

The Common Myna or Indian Myna is known as Salik/Shalik Pakhi in Bangladesh. Sometimes it spelled as Mynah or Moyna. Its scientific name is Acridotheres tristis and is a member of family Sturnidae. This bird is originated from central and southern Asia, that is Bangladesh, India, Myanmar(Burma), China, Indo-China region. This bird has been introduced then many other parts of the world, such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Hawaii, islands of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.Common Myna/Indian Myna or Shalik Pakhi was first described in 1766 by Carolus Linnaeus, Swedish botanist,physician and zoologist. The range of the Common Myna/Indian Myna or Shalik Pakhi is increasing to the extent that in 2000 the IUCN Species Survival Commission declared it among the World's 100 worst invasive species. This bird is one of only three birds in this list of invasive species. Common Myna/Indian Myna or Shalik Pakhi has a strong territorial instict.Common Myna/Indian Myna or Shalik Pakhi can be identified by the brown body, black hooded head and the bare yellow patch behind the eye. Its bill and legs are bright yellow.There is a white patch on the outer primaries and in flight it shows large white wing patches. The sexes are similar and birds are usually seen in pairs. Common Myna/Indian Myna or Shalik Pakhi is 23-26 cm in size, its average weight is 116 gm and breeding season is October to March. The normal clutch size is 4-6 eggs. The average size of the egg is 30,8 x 21,99 mm. The incubation period is 17 to 18 days and fledging period is 22 to 24 days. This bird lives an average of 20 years.Common Myna/Indian Myna or Shalik Pakhi feeds on almost everything, including insects, fruits, vegetables, seeds and scraps. In Bangladesh and India region this bird is called as the ''farmer's friend'' because it eats insects that destroy crop plants.