This bird is called the Crested Myna (ππ€π³πͺπ₯π°π΅π©π¦π³π¦π΄ π€π³πͺπ΄π΅π’π΅π¦πππΆπ΄) and they are very common in the Cordillera region. People often keep them as pets. I spotted this one at an agricultural field at the Benguet State University.
These birds are often referred to as "martinez" here in the Philippines. I'm not sure how they got that name.
This bird is not native to the Philippines which means it was brought here. The prevailing theory is that these birds were brought to the Philippines via China in the second half of the 19th century. Some got away from their keepers. Some were intentionally released in the wild. The birds adapted very well to the new Philippine environment and their populations grew.
#birdwatching #birdwatchers #wildlifeplanet #crestedmyna
