Zoo Atlanta Hatches Six Critically Endangered Starlings

Six Bali myna starling chicks hatched at Zoo Atlanta this year as the species works back from near extinction.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Bird Watching

White Bali myna starlings with blue eye-rings perch on a branch in a leafy aviary beside a small chick in a nest cup. — Zoo Atlanta hatched six Bali myna starling chicks this year as the critically endangered species works back from near extinction in 2001. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Zoo Atlanta has hatched six Bali myna starling chicks in 2026. The critically endangered bird nearly went extinct in 2001, when only six birds remained.

Why it matters

The hatchlings add to a conservation effort that has helped bring the species back from the brink of extinction. Bali myna starlings remain valuable in the illegal pet trade, which keeps wild populations under pressure.

Bali myna starlings have white plumage tipped with black on the wings and tail, along with blue patches of skin around the eyes. The species can mimic certain sounds, including words.

The players

Zoo Atlanta

Zoo Atlanta is the Atlanta, Georgia zoo that hatched the six Bali myna starling chicks and participates in conservation breeding programs.

The details

Zoo Atlanta reported the hatching of six Bali myna starling chicks this year. The species is native to a small region of Bali and is listed as critically endangered.

2001: The species nearly went extinct, dropping to six birds.
2025: The wild population was estimated at 600 birds.
2026: Six hatchlings were born at Zoo Atlanta.

Culture Shift

The Bali myna recovery from six birds in 2001 to an estimated 600 in 2025 shows how coordinated captive breeding and wild protection can reverse a near-extinction. Zoo breeding programs like the one at Zoo Atlanta now feed into that broader effort.

Atlanta residents can see the Bali myna starlings in person at Zoo Atlanta. The birds' mimicry and distinctive markings make them a notable species for visitors interested in birdwatching.

The takeaway

Captive breeding can bring a species back from the edge, but the illegal pet trade still threatens wild populations. Supporting legal, ethical sourcing of birds protects the recovery.