Sydney Myna Birds Ride Trains Daily to Find Food

When ABC producer Jackie Dent boarded a train at Roseville station last month, she didn't expect to find two regular commuters perched calmly on a seat. A pair of myna birds sat together, relaxed and unbothered by their human fellow travelers.

Dent alerted a train guard when she got off at Chatswood, worried the birds were stuck. The guard's response surprised her: these feathered friends "always" catch the train, riding between Lindfield and Artarmon stations.

Her Instagram video quickly went viral, with other commuters chiming in about the birds they'd spotted. "I'd always watch them when I caught the train to Lindfield in my uni days!" one user wrote. "They know exactly where they are going."

Wildlife experts say the behavior makes perfect sense. Common mynas are highly intelligent birds with excellent memories and learning abilities. These particular travelers are likely a monogamous couple, as mynas mate for life and defend their territory together.

"The common myna is incredibly accustomed to living around humans," says Andrea Griffin, an associate professor in wildlife conservation at the University of Newcastle. The birds have thrived alongside people since ancient Egypt, learning to exploit whatever food sources we provide.

Sean Dooley from BirdLife Australia explains that mynas are skilled at finding waste in bins and scattered leftovers. They've clearly discovered that Sydney's Northern line offers what he calls "a veritable smorgasbord" of dining opportunities.

Sunny's Take

The birds aren't joyriding or trying to reach a destination. They've simply figured out that hopping on the train opens access to new feeding grounds. One bird found food near a train door, hopped aboard, and learned the routine paid off.

Griffin suspects the same pair rides predictably at similar times each day, loyal to their discovered foraging route. Their ability to mimic speech, navigate long distances home, and remember profitable food sources makes train-hopping just another learned skill.

What started as one clever discovery may spread to other mynas too, as these social birds share behaviors within their communities.

City wildlife continues to surprise us with its adaptability and intelligence.