Common Myna Breeding

["Esme Barker & Bruce Ramsay" <>]

Hello Martin.

Thank you very much for this - it certainly does show a pretty marked seasonality to breeding.

 

They certainly DO appreciate their privacy, it would seem. I am rather surprised that no co records have ever been reported to the GBS. I will certainly note it on my chart when I bring it to you at the next meeting.

 

To be honest with you, maybe its not reported because it simply isn't observed. This pair was on the top of a street light and it was only about 20 minutes after sunrise ie after it got light enough to see clearly. The actual copulation was what I would describe as "blink and you'll miss it". The preliminaries leading to it were hardly more spectacular. The birds flew to the top of the electric light cover and one (the female as it turned out) crouched. The second bird stood quite near and after about 30 seconds or so, made 2 pecking motions at the crouching bird. I didn't see clearly as to whether or not he actually pecked her, but I don't think so. A brief pause was followed by copulation, shortly after which the female stood and then flew off, to be followed by the male several seconds later.

 

If thats all there really is to Myna mating then I guess it could be one reason why co hasn't been reported to the GBS.

 

Bruce