How Much Does a Mynah Bird Cost?

Last Updated on December 14, 2023
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

With their jet-black coats and vibrant yellow markings, mynah birds captivate pet lovers worldwide. Intelligent and chatty, these personable songbirds make wonderfully engaging companions when properly cared for.

If their fun-loving nature calls to you, read on to learn all about mynah ownership! We’ll cover costs, speech training, nutrition, and more so you can decide if sharing life with one of these exotic mimics fits your home.

How much does a mynah bird cost?

The cost of a mynah bird can vary a lot. It depends on things like the store or breeder, where you live, the type of mynah, its age, color, size, and how much it can do.

For example, an Indian Hill Mynah bird that talks costs around $450. A Thai Hill Mynah often costs about $400. Expect to pay somewhere between $400 and over $3,700 for a common mynah. Rare or unique breeds can cost way more. Before you buy one, check your local laws. Make sure it’s legal to own a mynah where you live.

You might also like our articles about the cost of a Green Cheek Conure, a Kiwi bird, or a Lorikeet.

Purchase Price

Hill Mynahs – $500-$1,500+

This is hands down the most desired for captivity thanks to superior talking ability. But wild capture bans due to critically endangered conservation status strictly limit breeding stock. Supply hardly satisfies exotic pet market demand.

Common Mynahs – $50 – $300

Although declines occur in their native southeast Asia, introduced feral populations still thrive across the world. These hardy, adaptable birds cost less simply because they’re far more abundant.

But their drab coloration attracts less interest than the beautifully marked hill mynah. For talking potential too, hill mynahs win out.

You can check out our table below to see what rates we were able to find online while doing our research on this topic:

Myna Bird Species	EXPECTED Price
Pair of White Edge Mynah Birds	$3,900
Albino Hill Mynah	$1,900
Black Collared Mynah	$1,900
GreyHead Mynah	$1,500
Common Mynah	$750
Red-Eyed Hill Mynah	$3,300
Indian Hill Mynah	$7900
Large Crested	$350

The Spruce Pets notes that depending on availability and your location, mynah birds cost from $500 to $1,500.

The Softbills for Sale website lists various mynah birds for sale, with prices and contact details provided by individual sellers.

The Parrot Stars website offers an Indian Hill Mynah bird for a price of $3,500.

Mynah ownership is a very rewarding but expensive commitment. Exact figures vary between the two most common pet species – hill mynahs and common mynahs. Let’s differentiate key differences in cost factors between them.

Habitat & Supplies

Whether a hill or common, first-year expenses don’t stop with purchase. At a minimum, new owners need:

• Extra large cage & accessories – $500+
• Variety perches & toys – $150
• Quality food mix – $100+ yearly
• Yearly wellness exams & testing – $300+
• Emergency veterinary fund – $1,000+

…Plus surprises like replacing destroyed curtains, phones, remotes, etc! Smart birds equal smart (and sometimes naughty) choices for “baby-proofing!”

Additional Cost Considerations

I always believe upfront planning makes pet ownership smoother for all. So what else may influence budgeting beyond basics?

Special Needs – From injuries to chronic issues, mynahs often require specialized care. One emergency surgery or long-term treatment easily exceeds $2,000.

Breeding Expenses – Properly raising the next generations takes serious dedication – plus financial readiness. Don’t attempt without extensive mentoring and savings!

Time Investment – These ultra social mynah birds need extensive daily interaction. Working owners must budget for pet sitters or birdie daycares too.

Holiday Boarding – When owning a mynah bird as a pet, trips mean booking bonded bird specialists to watch your home – fees add up fast!

Home Protection – Mynahs nibble, excavate, and shred as exploration play. Protect valuables with patience and baby-proofing.

With realistic expectations, no surprise bills blindside you later!

Getting to Know Mynahs

Before committing, let’s unpack some mynah bird basics:

Family – Mynahs belong to the starling family within a songbird group known as softbills. They share relation to birds like grackles, cowbirds, and of course, starlings.

Native Habitat  – The 30+ mynah species dwell across tropical southern Asia, Africa, and Australasia. Different types occupy forests, grasslands, farms, and urban cityscapes.

Types of Mynah Birds

Mynah birds come in several species. Here are some of the main kinds:

• The Bali Mynah is extremely rare. It gets its name from the island of Bali. This white bird has a black mask on its face. Humans damaging its home has put the Bali Mynah at risk of extinction.
• Bank Mynahs build nest holes along dirt banks and cliffs. They are known for burrowing these nesting sites out of the earth.
• The Common or Indian Mynah originates from southern Asia. They have been brought to other regions to help control insects. This has become a problem in some areas.
• The Crested Mynah lives in south China and Taiwan. It is the only Mynah able to breed in the United States and Canada.
• Hill Mynahs are popular pets. They can learn to talk and copy sounds better than other Mynahs. These black birds have yellow patches behind their eyes and on their wings. They mostly eat fruit.
• Papuan and Golden Mynahs are tropical birds decorated in vibrant colors. They are found in New Guinea and surrounding islands.
• The White-vented or Javan Mynah comes from islands in southeast Asia.

Types Kept as Pets

The Indian or hill mynah and common mynah are the most popular captive breeds.

The hill mynah’s striking black and yellow coloration and superior talking ability drives high demand. Unfortunately, wild populations struggle to meet exotic pet trade capture rates.

Meanwhile, the common mynah’s drabber hues limit pet appeal. But its ultra-adaptable nature enabled the bird’s global introduction for insect control. Feral descendents now nuisance many regions by displacing native species.

So make sure to only support the most ethical mynah breeders available!

Do Mynahs Actually Talk?

Yes – mynahs stand among parrots and crows as the best avian mimics! Their vocal organ structure allows for articulating an impressive vocabulary of around 100 words or phrases.

Mynah speech mastery takes patience though. Hand raised youngsters learn fastest through consistent repetition training. Adult rescues talk less without early conditioning.

But even quieter mynahs babble, whistle, and sound off in oddball ways. So expect vocal antics either way! Just maybe not late night phone call pranks.

Caring for Captive Mynahs

While undeniably smart and funny, mynahs need ample habitat enrichments staying healthy in captivity:

Cage Size – Minimum dimensions should measure 2ft x 4ft x 2ft tall. Horizontal space for climbing and flapping matters more than height.

Perches – Different perch widths and textures prevent foot sores. Natural wood branches work better than dowels.

Bathing – Mynahs adore splashing baths! Provide both a water bowl and daily misting to help them preen.

Toys – Mirrors, bells, wood blocks give mental and physical enrichment. Avoid loose fabrics they could choke on.

Nutrition – A quality softbill pellet, vegetables, fruits and occasional insects maintain ideal diet variety.

Out of Cage Time – At least one hour of supervised play stretches wings and prevents boredom.

Socialization – Positive encounters with new sights and sounds habituate good behavior.

As one of the most intelligent avian species, mynahs truly thrive on excitement and connections. Making their world “fun-loving” as their name suggests brings the most joy all around.

Health Watch Areas for Mynahs

No pet comes completely problem-free, though. Mynahs tend towards several inherited health vulnerabilities to monitor:

Iron Storage Disease – Abnormal iron metabolism causes organ damage resembling hemochromatosis in humans. Always avoiding iron-rich foods reduces risk greatly.

Obesity – messy eaters that scatter much of their diet, mynahs easily gain excess weight if overfed. Stick to portion guidelines.

Skin Issues – Dry air and inadequate bathing predisposes mynah’s skin to painful cracking and sores. Keep environments humid and set up easy bath access.

Injury Risks – Their daring nature and beaks powerful enough to crack nuts and fruit pits makes emergency vet visits for swallowed foreign items not uncommon. So mynah-proof your home carefully!

Where to Adopt or Purchase a Mynah

Because the hill mynah ranks critically endangered from illegal trade overharvesting, domestic breeding struggles to meet pet demand. Prices run $500-$1,500 per bird.

Avoid supporting shady exotic animal dealers with murky breeding practices. Instead, try:

• Specialty bird breeder waitlists
• Rescue/rehoming networks
• Exotic pet reseller screenings

No matter your source, always self-quarantine new birds for a few weeks, watching for symptoms of illness. Then book a vet well check before introductions with current pets.

Is a Mynah the Pet for You?

Ultimately mynah companionship brings tremendous delight but requires also dedicating time, research, and investment.

If able to meet their complex social and diet needs, mynahs pay back caretaking through years of hilarious play and conversation. Just be sure you’re ready for a very vocal roommate prone to loud opinions!

Let me know if you need any help preparing to welcome one of these unique softbills home. I’m happy to help assess your readiness!

Smart Savings Strategies

What if soaring upfront and maintenance costs intimidate your budget? Consider these tips:

Adopt Don’t Shop – Countless mynahs need rescue from substandard breeding situations or overwhelmed past owners. Adoption donations save lives and dollars!

DIY Enrichments – Build bigger cages, craft fun toys, and perches at home using leftover wood, and next-to-free castoffs.

Buy In Bulk – Pellets, nut mixes, and supplements store well preventing frequent repurchases. Just confirm freshness promises.

Learn Self-Grooming – Using proper bird-safe products, nurture your bond through at-home misting, nail trims, and behavioral training.

Join Avian Groups – Sharing advice from those already “my-nah” experienced prevents learning the hard way!