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Albino Javan Myna in a flock of mynas

on 6th June 2009

Lena Chow saw an albino myna on 30th May 2009 along the shores of Labrador Park. It was in a flock of about a dozen Javan Mynas (Acridotheres javanicus). The albino bird appeared to be accepted by the flock.

Writes Lena, “I checked your blog and saw this article, so just sending today’s observation as confirmation and for the record.”

Yes, the earlier post reported the same situation, the albino being accepted by the “normal” members of the flock. It also reported an albino myna pairing with a “normal” bird. So the acceptance was more than skin deep.

As an albino bird looks different with its whitish plumage, it is usually not accepted by its conspecific, that is, birds of the same species. This was reported for an albino Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris). But mynas may behave differently.

Images by Lena Chow.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

One Response

  1. Sorry for being pedantic, the myna is actually leucistic rather than albino. There is a difference scientifically. An easy way to tell is that the eyes are not pink and the legs are still the normal colour. Always something interesting on this blog!

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