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Bird watching
- Sri Lanka is situated 10 degrees north of the equator. Therefore the tropical climate and diversity of habitats including lush lowland rain forests, cloud forests, dry lowlands, wetlands, coastlines, and thousands of manmade reservoirs have helped to endow Sri Lanka an island of true ornithologist's paradise.
Of the 494 recorded species, 230 are breeding residents and 33 are endemic to the country. The other resident species are also found in the Indian mainland, but over 80 have developed distinct Sri Lankan races.
Not only that but also there are about 200 seasonal migratory birds both terrestrial and aquatic traveling from far away Siberia, Scandinavia, and Western Europe to move away from the Northern winter, coming here around mid-August and leaving around early May every year. Since there is no other landmass until the South Pole after South India, those migrating birds end their long journey in Sri Lanka and are making it their regular wintering ground.
Most of the endemics are restricted to the wet zone, while birds such as the Sri Lanka Whistling-Thrush and the Sri Lanka Yellow-eared Bulbul reside in the hill country. Others, like the brilliantly plumage Sri Lanka Jungle fowl, the striking Sri Lanka Red-faced Malkoha, and the shy Sri Lanka Brown-capped Babbler can be found in forests and sanctuaries throughout the island. Among the best areas for sighting these birds are the Sinharaja tropical wet lowland rain forests and Peak Wilderness rain forest.
The interesting feature of Sri Lanka’s birds is the presence of mixed-species flocks, which makes watching birds easy and interesting since one can study carefully the interactions between different species.
Endemic Sri Lankan birds are:
1. Sri Lanka Spur fowl -Galloperdix bicalcarata
2. Sri Lanka Jungle fowl - Gallus lafayettii
3. Sri Lanka Wood pigeon - Columba torringtonii
4. Sri Lanka Pompadour green pigeon - Treron pompadora
5. Sri Lanka hanging parrot - Loriculus beryllinus
6. Sri Lanka layard’s parakeet - Psittacula calthropae
7. Sri Lanka red-faced malkoha - Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus
8. Green-billed coucal - Centropus chlororhynchos
9. Sri Lanka serendib scops-owl - Otus thilohoffmanni
10. Sri Lanka chestnut-backed owlet - Glaucidium castanonotum
11. Sri Lanka grey hornbill - Ocyceros gingalensis
12. Sri Lanka yellow-fronted barbet - Megalaima flavifrons
13. Sri Lanka small barbet - Megalaima rubricapillus
14. Sri Lanka crimson-backed flameback - Chrysocolaptes stricklandi
15. Sri Lanka swallow - Hirundo hyperythra
16. Sri Lanka wood shrike - Tephrodornis affinis
17. Sri Lanka black-capped bulbul - Pycnonotus melanicterus
18. Sri Lanka yellow-eared bulbul - Pycnonotus penicillatus
19. Sri Lanka whistling-thrush - Myophonus blighi
20. Sri Lanka spot-winged ground-thrush - Zoothera spiloptera
21. Sri Lanka scaly thrush - Zoothera imbricate
22. Sri Lanka bush-warbler - Bradypterus palliseri
23. Sri Lanka dusky-blue flycatcher - Eumyias sordidus
24. Sri Lanka brown-capped babbler - Pellorneum fuscocapillus
25. Sri Lanka scimitar-babbler - Pomatorhinus [schisticeps] melanurus
26. Sri Lanka orange-billed babbler - Turdoides rufescens
27. Sri Lanka ashy-headed laughing thrush - Garrulax cinereifrons
28. Sri Lanka white-throated flower pecker - Dicaeum vincens
29. Sri Lanka white-eye - Zosterops Sri Lankaensis
30. Sri Lanka crested drongo - Dicrurus lophorinus
31. Sri Lanka blue magpie - Urocissa ornata
32. Sri Lanka white-faced starling - Sturnia albofrontata
The national parks, forest reserves, and sanctuaries in the country are the places where birders can observe many species in one location. Visit any of these places would enable to observe so many other species of plants and animals as well.
- Sri Lanka is situated 10 degrees north of the equator. Therefore the tropical climate and diversity of habitats including lush lowland rain forests, cloud forests, dry lowlands, wetlands, coastlines, and thousands of manmade reservoirs have helped to endow Sri Lanka an island of true ornithologist's paradise.
Of the 494 recorded species, 230 are breeding residents and 33 are endemic to the country. The other resident species are also found in the Indian mainland, but over 80 have developed distinct Sri Lankan races.
Not only that but also there are about 200 seasonal migratory birds both terrestrial and aquatic traveling from far away Siberia, Scandinavia, and Western Europe to move away from the Northern winter, coming here around mid-August and leaving around early May every year. Since there is no other landmass until the South Pole after South India, those migrating birds end their long journey in Sri Lanka and are making it their regular wintering ground.
Most of the endemics are restricted to the wet zone, while birds such as the Sri Lanka Whistling-Thrush and the Sri Lanka Yellow-eared Bulbul reside in the hill country. Others, like the brilliantly plumage Sri Lanka Jungle fowl, the striking Sri Lanka Red-faced Malkoha, and the shy Sri Lanka Brown-capped Babbler can be found in forests and sanctuaries throughout the island. Among the best areas for sighting these birds are the Sinharaja tropical wet lowland rain forests and Peak Wilderness rain forest.
The interesting feature of Sri Lanka’s birds is the presence of mixed-species flocks, which makes watching birds easy and interesting since one can study carefully the interactions between different species.
Endemic Sri Lankan birds are:
1. Sri Lanka Spur fowl -Galloperdix bicalcarata
2. Sri Lanka Jungle fowl - Gallus lafayettii
3. Sri Lanka Wood pigeon - Columba torringtonii
4. Sri Lanka Pompadour green pigeon - Treron pompadora
5. Sri Lanka hanging parrot - Loriculus beryllinus
6. Sri Lanka layard’s parakeet - Psittacula calthropae
7. Sri Lanka red-faced malkoha - Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus
8. Green-billed coucal - Centropus chlororhynchos
9. Sri Lanka serendib scops-owl - Otus thilohoffmanni
10. Sri Lanka chestnut-backed owlet - Glaucidium castanonotum
11. Sri Lanka grey hornbill - Ocyceros gingalensis
12. Sri Lanka yellow-fronted barbet - Megalaima flavifrons
13. Sri Lanka small barbet - Megalaima rubricapillus
14. Sri Lanka crimson-backed flameback - Chrysocolaptes stricklandi
15. Sri Lanka swallow - Hirundo hyperythra
16. Sri Lanka wood shrike - Tephrodornis affinis
17. Sri Lanka black-capped bulbul - Pycnonotus melanicterus
18. Sri Lanka yellow-eared bulbul - Pycnonotus penicillatus
19. Sri Lanka whistling-thrush - Myophonus blighi
20. Sri Lanka spot-winged ground-thrush - Zoothera spiloptera
21. Sri Lanka scaly thrush - Zoothera imbricate
22. Sri Lanka bush-warbler - Bradypterus palliseri
23. Sri Lanka dusky-blue flycatcher - Eumyias sordidus
24. Sri Lanka brown-capped babbler - Pellorneum fuscocapillus
25. Sri Lanka scimitar-babbler - Pomatorhinus [schisticeps] melanurus
26. Sri Lanka orange-billed babbler - Turdoides rufescens
27. Sri Lanka ashy-headed laughing thrush - Garrulax cinereifrons
28. Sri Lanka white-throated flower pecker - Dicaeum vincens
29. Sri Lanka white-eye - Zosterops Sri Lankaensis
30. Sri Lanka crested drongo - Dicrurus lophorinus
31. Sri Lanka blue magpie - Urocissa ornata
32. Sri Lanka white-faced starling - Sturnia albofrontata
The national parks, forest reserves, and sanctuaries in the country are the places where birders can observe many species in one location. Visit any of these places would enable to observe so many other species of plants and animals as well.
Fantastic Activities in Bird watching
Bird watching, Gal Oya national park
GAL OYA
- Gal Oya national park is blessed with a dazzling array of...
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Bird watching, Wilpattu national park
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- Bird watching in Wilpattu national parks is a unique experience...
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Bird watching, Horton plains national park
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- Bird watching is very common in Horton plains...
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Bird watching, Bundala national park
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- Bundala national park is heaven for bird...
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Bird watching, Adam's bridge marine national park
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- The sea of the Sri Lankan section of Adam’s...
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Bird watching, Vankalai sanctuary
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Vankalai wildlife sanctuary, partly a wetland comprises the... Read More
Bird watching, Chundikulam national park
JAFFNA
- The thin stem of land connecting the mainland...
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Bird watching, Kalametiya bird sanctuary
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Kalametiya bird sanctuary is accessible from... Read More
Bird watching, Udawatta Kele sanctuary
KANDY
- Udawatta Kele sanctuary is a wet evergreen...
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Bird Park, Hambantota
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Kurulu Kele, Bird sanctuary, Kegalle
PINNAWALA
- Kurulu Kele is located very close to the Kegalle town and 10 km...
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Bird watching, Sinharaja forest reserve
SINHARAJA
- The mixed-species feeding flocks are common in rainforests. The...
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