Avian baldness: unprecedented Common Myna (<i>Acridotheres tristis</i>) observations in Kerala, India

Abstract

The Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) is a frequently observed flocking bird of urban habitats. This paper presents opportunistic observations of two bald Common Mynas from distinct locations in Kerala. While bald Common Mynas have been documented in various regions of India, this paper discusses the first occurrences reported in Kerala. Notably, one of the mynas under investigation in this study is a tamed, free-living bird.

Keywords

• Common Myna
• baldness
• deformities
• plumage anomalies
• urban birds
• avian observation