The Bali myna was named Bali’s faunal emblem in 1991.
Also called the Bali starling, Rothschild’s mynah, or jalak Bali, this striking white bird is endemic to Bali and nearby offshore islands. It has a long drooping crest, black wing and tail tips, and vivid blue bare skin around the eyes. Its scientific name is Leucopsar rothschildi.
The emblem reflects the bird’s distinctive place in Bali’s natural heritage, but it also highlights a conservation crisis. Illegal trapping for the cage-bird trade and habitat loss reduced the wild population to extremely low numbers. The species is classified as Critically Endangered, with conservation programs combining captive breeding, legal protection, habitat management, and releases.
People often confuse the Bali myna with the black-winged myna. The latter has much more black on its wings and tail, yellow skin around the eyes, and a shorter crest. The Bali myna is also featured on Indonesia’s 200-rupiah coin.