[3] The crested myna is typically found in open spaces near urban and agricultural areas.

[2][4] It is a popular cage bird and, as a result, has been accidentally released in a few places outside of its usual range.

[3] It will eat a variety of food including worms, grubs, grains, fruit, and even garbage.

[4] In 1743 the English naturalist George Edwards included a picture and a description of the crested myna in his A Natural History of Uncommon Birds.

Linnaeus included a brief description, coined the binomial name Gracula cristatella and cited Edwards' work.

[8] The crested myna is now placed in the genus Acridotheres that was introduced in 1816 by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot.

[9][10] It was previously placed in the genus Aethiospar, which included the mynas that had a fully feathered or tufted face.

[2][4] Three subspecies are recognised:[10] The crested myna is named after the tuft of feathers that form a crest-like structure on its forehead that covers the bird's nostrils.

[11] The crested myna can be found in a wide range of habitats from urban to rural areas.

In rural areas, it can be spotted on agricultural fields, in orchards and farmyards, near manure piles.

[2] As a popular cage bird, it is often transported outside of its normal range and, on occasion, can be accidentally released and introduced in a new area.

[12] The crested myna has also been successfully introduced in Penang, Singapore, Manila, as well as parts of Japan and Argentina.

The crested myna has a wide array of songs and calls, from whistles to warbles to chortles.

[11] Vocal mimicry of human voices and other yard birds in crested mynas has been reported.

[3] In the winter months, as insects and fruit are less common, the crested myna eats a lot more garbage (representing about 15% of its diet).

[3] Juveniles eat proportionally more animal matter than adults[3] Approximately 75% of their diet is made of meat (50% of which is from insects).

[3] Similarly to adult crested mynas, the proportion of insects and fruit that the juveniles eat increases with availability and abundance.

The eggs are incubated for 14 days, after which the fledglings move out of the nest onto a nearby tree or shrub.