The plumage of this species is striking, with the head, breast, back and rump being white, and the tail and parts of the wings glossy black.

Until recently it had adjusted to human-modified habitats well, moving into orchards, lawns, suburban areas and other cultivated land.

[5] The black-winged myna is one of the most popular species among collectors; in recent years the number of birds entering the trade has declined as they have become increasingly rare in the wild.

The species is also potentially threatened by changes in agricultural processes, and scientists are also concerned about genetic variation being lost as escapees mix the three subspecies.

[3] A captive breeding program has been started at Cikananga Wildlife Rescue Center in West Java, and produced 200 chicks by 2012.

Several reintroductions were planned, one at Antam Pongkor Gold Mine in Gunung Halimun Salak National Park and another Rawadanau Nature Reserve in Banten Province, though the former was setback after the property was transferred to national park authorities, who immediately relaxed trapping prevention, resulting in the decline from forty individuals to eight.