Traits: Mynahs are sociable and enjoy positive interaction on a daily basis. They’re also quite active. Mynahs have a captivating personality and often cock their heads when mimicking human voices. They are also curious, playful and inquisitive, and they are constantly moving around their cage. Mynahs are capable to developing an extensive vocabulary, sometimes sounding more like a human than other popular talking parrots. The java hill mynah (Gracula religiosa religiosa) is very rare in the United States and is no longer imported due to its inclusion in Cites Appendix II. They originate from India, China, Sri Lanka and Thailand. They are pricey and can be great talkers (if they choose to speak “English”). They need a large enough cage that they can jump back and forth from perch to perch. Feed them low-iron pellets and fruit. The java is a bit larger and louder than the greater Indian hill mynah. They can be tame pets and will hang out with their owner on the shoulder or hand and some like to be pet. Because of the fruit in their diet, their droppings will be more wet and messy.
Behavior/Health Concerns: Mynah’s are sensitive to iron, so provide a diet low in iron. Fruit should be provided at least every other day, but choose fruits low in acid which will not promote iron absorption. Provide mynahs a diet consisting of vegetables, pasta, cheese, cooked beans, rice and low-iron pellets. Distilled or filtered water is recommended because well water contains iron. Mynahs like to bathe more often than other pet birds and they prefer to have water bowls they can use to splash and dunk themselves in.