ENDEMIC BIRDS 

1. Sri Lanka Spur Fowl 

 

 English Name: - Sri Lanka Spur Fowl Sinhala Name: - Haban Kukula Scientific Name: - Galloperdix bicalcarata

The Sri Lanka Spur fowl, Galloperdix bicalcarata, is a member of the pheasant family which is endemic to the dense rainforests of Sri Lanka. It is a very secretive bird, and despite its size is difficult to see as it slips through dense undergrowth.  

The legs are red. The adult male has scaly black and white under parts and head. There is also extensive white spotting on the brown wings and upper back. The legs have two long spurs, which give rise to the specific name. The female has chestnut under parts and a plain brown back and wings.

Like most of the pheasant family, Sri Lanka Spur fowl is a terrestrial species. It scratches vigorously amongst the leaf litter of the forest floor for various seeds, fallen fruit and insects. 2.Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl 

 

 English Name: - Sri Lanka Jungle FowlSinhala Name: - Lanka Wali Kukula Scientific Name: - Gallus lafayetii

 The Sri Lankan Jungle fowl (Gallus lafayetii), also known during the colonial era as the Ceylon Jungle fowl, is a member of the pheasant family which is endemic to Sri Lanka, where it is the national bird As with other jungle fowl, the Sri Lankan Jungle fowl is strongly sexually dimorphic: the male is much larger than the female, with more vivid plumage and a highly exaggerated wattle and comb.

The male Sri Lankan Jungle fowl ranges from 66–73 cm (26–29 in) in length and 790–1,140 g (1.7–2.5 lb) in weight, essentially resembling a large, muscular rooster. The male has orange-red body plumage, and dark purple to black wings and tail. The feathers of the main descending from head to base of spine are golden, and the face has bare red skin and wattles. The comb is red with a yellow centre. The female is much smaller, at only 35 cm (14 in) in length and 510–645 g (1.1–1.42 lb) in

weight, with dull brown plumage with white patterning on the lower belly and breast, ideal camouflage for a nesting bird. Sri Lanka Jungle fowl is a terrestrial species. It spends most of its time foraging for food by scratching the ground for various seeds, fallen fruit and insects.It is a ground nesting bird, and lays 2-4 eggs in a nest. Similar to many members of the pheasant family, the colourful male plays no part in the incubation of the eggs or rearing. These duties are performed by the drab and well-camouflaged female. It is common in forest and scrub habitats, and is commonly spotted at sites such as Kithulgala, Yala and Sinharaja. 3.Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon 

 

 English Name: - Sri Lanka Wood PigeonSinhala Name: - Sri Lanka Maila-goyaScientific Name: - Columba torringtoni The Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon is the size of the domestic pigeon, but with a long tail. Sexes are alike. Young birds are duller, and have only a trace of the black and white 'chess board' patch on the side of the neck.

Exclusively a forest dweller, it lives in pairs though small flocks will form where food is abundant. It is strictly arboreal, feeding on a variety of small jungle fruits and berries, among which the fruits of the wild cinnamon are much liked.

The breeding season is from February to May, and again from August to October. The nest is the usual pigeon-type, scanty platform of twigs; it is placed among foliage and branches in the canopy of a forest tree, or in the top of a tall sapling, usually at height of fifteen to

twenty feet. The single, white egg measures about 38.5 X 28.2 mm.

This handsome pigeon is confined to the hill forests of Sri Lanka, though it has a close relation (the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon), of very similar appearance and habits, in the hills of South India. It s normal range is from 3,000 feet upwards to the highest elevations, but it wanders about a great deal and sometimes descends as low as 1000 feet in the damp forests of the wet zone.

4.Pompadour Green Pigeon

  English Name: - Pompadour Green Pigeon

Sinhala Name: – Pita-rathu Batagoya Scientific Name: - Treron pompadora  The Pompadour Green Pigeon is a stocky, medium- sized pigeon, 25 to 28 centimeters (9.8 to 11 in) in length, with some subspecies significantly larger than others (e.g., chloropterus is significantly larger than the subspecies from the Asian mainland). The head is green to greenish-yellow, and the under parts are green, though males of the subspecies phayrei have a pale orange patch on the chest. The crown, including the forehead is grey, except in the nominate subspecies where the forehead is greenish-yellow. The under tail coverts are mainly whitish or pale yellowish, though they are deep cinnamon in males of affinis and phayrei. The wings are blackish with distinct yellow edging to the wing coverts and tertials. The mantle is dark green in the female and deep purplish-chestnut in the male. In most subspecies, this includes the "shoulder", but in males of aromaticus the

"shoulder" is very dark grey and in males of chloropterus it is green. Furthermore, males of aromaticus and some members of the axillaris group have a grey band above the mantle.

The legs are reddish in most subspecies, but grey in the axillaris group. The eyes are maroon-red or deep to very light blue (depends on subspecies), and the bill is whitish-grey with a dull, pale greenish or bluish base, except in the axillaris group where the base is red. 5. Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot 

   

 English Name: - Sri Lanka Hanging ParrotSinhala Name: - Lanka GiramaliththaScientific Name: - Loriculus beryllinus 

The Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot known as Ceylon Lorikeet also (Loriculus beryllinus) is a small parrot which is a resident endemic breeder in Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, this bird is called Gira Maliththa in Sinhala Language.

The Ceylon Lorikeet is the smallest member of Sri Lanka's parrot family. This sparrow sized bird is predominantly green with bright red on the forehead and crown which turns into a golden orange on the nape and hind neck before blending into the green of the mantle. The rump and upper tail coverts are a bright scarlet. The brilliancy of this bird's plumage is further enhanced by its blue under wing and tail. The male bird's chin shows a prominent blue which is somewhat lacking in the female, her overall plumage being duller. Young are mostly green all over while very young birds are sparsely plumaged on the head and neck, possibly an adaptation to the nature of food they are fed on.

The Lorikeet is well distributed in the island up

to about 1200 metres elevation though it occurs rather sparingly in the dry zone, mostly in the foothills. It prefers well wooded habitat including forest but frequently visits orchards and fruit bearing gardens as well. It feeds on nectar and juicy fruit, in search of which it scrambles along branches with great agility. The Lorikeet is said to have a great affinity for the nectar of the talipot palm. The flight is swift and dashing, the birds often flying quite high. The flight is undulating and the bird utters a three syllable 'tchi, tchi, tchi' call while flying. This call is uttered while foraging too but the bird is so well camouflaged in spite of its bright plumage that it is often difficult to spot while thus engaged. The bird roosts by hanging upside down - bat wise.

The breeding season is from January to August but mainly during the period from March to May. It lays its eggs in a natural tree hole often at some height from ground level. Henry says the female carries strips of leaves etc to line the

nest by pushing them into her voluminous rump feathers. However it is difficult to see how this can be done without these falling off while the bird is flying. Usually two white eggs, quite circular in shape are laid.    6. Layard’s Parakeet 

   

 English Name: - Layard’s ParakeetSinhala Name: - Lanka Alu GirawaScientific Name: - Psittacula calthropae  The Layard's Parakeet (Psittacula calthropae) is a parrot which is a resident endemic breeder in Sri Lanka. Common name of this bird commemorates the British naturalist Edgar Leopold Layard; his first wife, Barbara Anne

Calthrop, whom he married in 1845, is commemorated in the specific epithet.

Smaller than a Common Mynah, but with a longer tail, this lovely parakeet is easily recognized by its lavender-grey head and mantle, broad emerald green collar and deep cobalt blue tail. The male has a scarlet red beak while that of the female is black. Young of both sexes are green all over with a darker head. Their beaks are orange-red in colour initially.

The Layard’s Parakeet is a bird of forest and well wooded areas. It is not uncommon in suitable habitat in the wet low country and the hills up to about 1700 metres. It is rather local in the dry zone but occurs in forested areas such as Ritigala and Wasgomuwa National Park and the eastern foothills. The species generally keeps to the upper and mid storey levels of foliage and is rarely destructive to paddy like the other parakeets. It moves about in pairs or small flocks. The call is a harsh kee-

kee-kee, rather overpowering when heard at close quarters. In flight, an aak, ak-ak call is often uttered. This call combined with the presence of a shorter tail than the other parakeets’ makes it easy to identify in flight. The bird is very adept at flying at high speed between trees avoiding them. The food consists of fruit, seed, buds and other leafy matter. The plumage camouflages the bird so much that a whole flock may be feeding in a well foliaged tree unnoticed until calls are uttered.

The breeding season is from about January to May with a secondary season from July to September. The eggs are laid in a natural cavity or a disused nest of a barbet or woodpecker, generally high up in a tree. Two to three white eggs are laid. Both sexes share incubation duties and feed the young.  

 7.Sri Lanka Green-billed Coucal 

   

 English Name: - Sri Lanka Green-billed CoucalSinhala Name: - Lanka Bata Ati-kukula Scientific Name: - Centropus chlororhynchos The Green-billed Coucal, Centropus chlororhynchos, is a member of the cuckoo order of birds It is endemic to Sri Lanka. The Green-billed Coucal is a rare and shy species of the tall rainforests of southwest Sri Lanka. It nests in a bush, and the typical clutch is 2-3 eggs.

This is a large species at 43 cm. Its head and body are purple-black, the wings are maroon above and black below, and the long tail is dark green. The bill is a distinctive light green. Sexes are similar, but juveniles are duller and streaked.

The Green-billed Coucal takes a wide range of insects, caterpillars and small vertebrates, but snails are a favourite. It occasionally eats other food items.

This species is somewhat smaller and less contrasted than the widespread Greater Coucal. Despite its size and distinctive call, this is a difficult species to see because of the dense habitat in which it lives and its retiring nature. This Coucal has a small and declining population as a result of the forest destruction. 8.Red Faced Mal Koha 

   

 English Name: - Red Faced Mal KohaSinhala Name: - Watha Rathu Mal KohaScientific Name: - Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus The Red-faced Malkoha, Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus, is a member of the cuckoo order. This Malkoha species is endemic to Sri Lanka. This is a large species at 46 cm with a long graduated tail. Its back is dark green, and the upper tail is green edged with white. The belly and under tail are white, the latter being barred black. The crown and throat are black, and the lower face white. There is a large red patch around the eye and the bill is green. Sexes are similar, but juveniles are much duller.

The Red-faced Malkoha takes a variety of insects including caterpillars, giant stick insects, mantises and small vertebrates such as lizard. It occasionally may eat berries but this needs confirmation. Unlike most cuckoos, this is a quiet species, making only the odd soft grunt

It is endemic to Sri Lanka although some old records have apparently erroneously referred to its presence in southern India. According to Baker (1934), it is found in the 'South of Travancore, where it was obtained by Stewart together with its nests'. Later, Biddulph reported a Red-faced Malkoha in Madurai district, southern Tamil Nadu. Thilo Hoffmann later pointed out that this record would not stand up to a modern records committee, and it is now best disregarded.

The presence of Red-faced Malkoha in the island is largely confined to the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and the surrounding vegetation,

which is one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world. The Red-faced Malkoha is a bird of dense forests, where it can be difficult to see despite its size and colour. It nests in a tree, the typical clutch being 2-3 eggs. They are found in nearly half of the mixed-species foraging flocks in the Sinharaja area.  9.Serendib Scops Owl  

   

 English Name: - Serendib Scops Owl Sinhala Name: – Panduwan Bassa Scientific Name: - Otus thilohoffmanni The Serendib Scops Owl; Otus thilohoffmanni is the most recently discovered bird of Sri

Lanka. The astonishing discovery of this tiny owl in 2001 in the southern rain forests of Sri Lanka stunned biologists around the world, representing the first new bird species to be identified in the country since 1868. Ornithologist Deepal Warakagoda initially located the Serendib Scops-owl in 1995 by its unfamiliar call, but it took a further six years of tracking this elusive and mysterious bird to eventually sight and photographs it. Thus, in 2001 it was confirmed that the owl appeared strikingly different from any other on the island or, indeed, anywhere in South Asia. It is the first new bird to be discovered in Sri Lanka since 1868, when the Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) Whistling Thrush Myophonus blighi was discovered. It is also the 27th endemic bird species for Sri Lanka.

The new species is a small Scops owl about 17 cm in length, with a short tail, and almost uniformly rufescens upperparts but for the presence of small black spots all over the body.

The face is a little darker, and under parts paler than upperparts, with the belly becoming whitish. It has no distinct, “true” ear-tufts. The irides are orange-yellow in the male and yellow in the female and juvenile. The beak, legs and claws are whitish. The legs are feathered on the tibia and upper tarsi. The vocalisation comprises a single note, pu’u’u, repeated at long intervals. Male and the female calls in the same pattern but in different keys.

At the time of the type description we knew that birds of a pair roosted fairly close together or well apart within their territory. Later we learnt that in some pairs the birds roost together or very close. A fledgling has been observed roosting with an adult male. Roosting height varies from about 1 to 2.5 m. A well-concealed place is chosen in dense vegetation in the undergrowth or just above it. Here the bird sits on an almost or entirely horizontal twig, usually close to dead leaves. Its size, shape and coloration blend it in perfectly with

the surroundings, making it hard to detect. When an owl is in “alert mode” at its daytime roost, in reaction to possible danger in the vicinity, it quickly adopts a stance which disguises it as a short, upright, broken branch. It tightens body feathers, which are otherwise loose and relaxed, to acquire a narrower appearance. At the same time it adjusts the feathers of the facial disk, forehead and crown to give the appearance of the top of such a branch. This latter arrangement is adopted also by species of owl which have two obvious, separate ear-tufts, which are erected to enhance this effect.

The Serendib Scops Owl, which does not possess ear-tufts, achieves a similar effect by compressing and flattening feathers on the forehead, fore crown and sides of the facial disk, and folding feather tracts on the forehead at the edges of the disk over the inner part of the eyes. This makes the top left and right edges of the disk stand out, with also the

support of adjacent crown feathers, giving an impression of short ear-tufts. Another result is an obvious, broader and deeper V on the forehead, showing up more white, than in a bird in “relaxed mode”. Endemic to Sri Lanka, found thus far only in the southwest quarter of the Island at Kithulgala, Kanneliya and Eratna-Gilimale Reserves, with its strongholds in the Sinharaja and Morapitiya-Runakanda contiguous reserves.

 10.Chestnut Backed Owlet 

   

 English Name: - Chestnut Backed OwletSinhala Name: - Lanka Pitathambala Wana-bassa

Scientific Name: - Glaucidium castanonotum  Chestnut-backed Owlet, Glaucidium castanotum (misspelled Glaucidium castanonotum), is an owl which is endemic to Sri Lanka. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most of the smaller species of owl. This species was formerly considered as a subspecies of the Jungle Owlet. The Chestnut-backed Owlet is small (19 cm) and stocky. It resembles the Jungle Owlet in shape, size and appearance but the upperparts, scapulars and wing coverts are mainly chestnut brown, with darker barring. The under parts are white with blackish shaft-streaks. The facial disc is mainly brown and the eyes are yellow. There is a white neckband. Sexes are similar.

The tail is black with seven fine horizontal bands of white. It is the size of the more familiar Scops Owl but has yellow eyes and no ear tufts. It is a rather scarce bird, being

confined to the remaining tracts of wet zone forest and their outskirts ascending the wet hills to about 1800 metres. In common with its dry zone counterpart, the Jungle Owlet, it is quite diurnal in its habits, feeding well into the mornings. Due to this reason, though scarce, it can often be observed in suitable habitat. Kithulgala is a particularly good place to observe the species. The bird lives in pairs feeding on insects such as beetles. However when young have to be fed, it catches much larger fare. The call is a far carrying, kaow,kaow kaow. The threatening song is a krook krook ascending to a kaow, kaow and ending in a kao whap, kao whap.

The breeding season is in the early part of the year. No nests appear to have been found until senior Ceylon Bird Club member Dr T S U de Zylva found a pair nesting in a discarded woodpecker nest hole in a tree about ten metres up, close to Aluvihare, Matale in the Central Province in April 2001. There were two young

present. Subsequently a nest was found in February 2006 in a natural cavity in a Jak tree high up about 12 metres from ground level at Kithulgala. Ceylon Bird Club chairman Nanda Senanayake was able to carefully measure the eggs and found that these measurements were significantly less than given by Legge (supposedly of this species). The eggs are white in colour. The nests found so far have been located outside but close to forest. One such nest was in a disused woodpecker nest in a coconut palm. Both adults feed the young visiting the nest every one and a half hours or so. A pair was observed to feed the young till at least 11.30 in the morning. Regarding the feeding of the young, Ceylon Bird Club member Uditha Hettige writes in the CBCN March 2009, ‘when an adult arrived with food it perched on a nearby tree and uttered a screech. The chicks then replied in similar fashion, and sometimes peeped out. It is only after sometime that an adult would proceed to

the nest hole. They were very cautious around it.’ He further records that young were fed mainly on reptiles and gives the following list of fare brought to the nest, observed by him were; Eight skinks, three geckoes, three Kangaroo Lizards, a snake of the Aspidura genus, a large green cricket, two cicadas and a nestling bird.    11.Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill  

   

 English Name: - Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill Sinhala Name: - Alu Kandaththa Scientific Name: - Ocyceros gingalensis  The Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros

gingalensis) is a hornbill and a widespread and common endemic resident breeder in Sri Lanka. Hornbills are a family of tropical near-passerine birds found in the Old World.

The Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill is a gregarious bird found in forest habitats. It feeds mostly on figs, although occasionally it eats small rodents, reptiles and insects. The female lays up to four white eggs in a tree hole blocked off during incubation with a cement made of mud, droppings and fruit pulp. There is only one narrow aperture, barely wide enough for the male to transfer food to the mother and the chicks.

The Grey Hornbill is a large bird at 45cm in length. It has grey wings with black primary flight feathers, a grey back, and a brown crown. Its long tail is blackish with white sides, and the under parts are white. The long curved bill has no casque. Sexes are similar, although the male has a cream-coloured bill, whereas the female's is black with a cream stripe. Immature

birds have dark grey upperparts, a cream bill, and a tail with a white tip. Its flight is slow and powerful

 

12.Sri Lanka Yellow Fronted Barbet 

   

 English Name: - Sri Lanka Yellow Fronted BarbetSinhala Name: - Ran-nalal Kottoruwa Scientific Name: - Megalaima flavifrons

 Yellow-fronted Barbet (Megalaima flavifrons) is an Asian barbet which is an endemic resident breeder in Sri Lanka. Barbets and toucans are a group of near passerine birds with a worldwide tropical distribution. The barbets get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills.

Yellow-fronted Barbet is an arboreal species of forests and other woodland, including large gardens, which eats mainly fruit and rarely insects. It nests in a tree hole, laying 2-3 eggs. This is a medium-sized barbet at 21 cm. It is a plump bird, with a short neck, large head and short tail. The adult Yellow-fronted Barbet has a mainly green body and wing plumage, with a scaly appearance to the breast. It has a blue face and throat, and a yellow crown and moustachial stripes. The call is a rolling kow-kow-kow-kow. 13. Ceylon Small Barbet

 

   

 English Name: - Ceylon Small Barbet Sinhala Name: - Oluwa Rathu Kottoruwa Scientific Name: - Megalaima rubricapilla

 Crimson-fronted Barbet or Ceylon Small Barbet or Small Barbet (Megalaima rubricapilla) is an Asian barbet endemic to Sri Lanka. The Malabar Barbet endemic to the Western Ghats of India used to be treated as a subspecies of this species. Barbets and toucans are a group of near passerine birds with a worldwide tropical distribution. The barbets get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills.

The Crimson-fronted Barbet is an arboreal

species of open woodland which eats fruit and insects. It nests in a tree hole, laying 2-4 eggs. This is a small barbet at 15 cm. It is a plump bird with a short neck, large head and short tail. The adult Crimson-fronted Barbet has a mainly green body and wing plumage, a blue band down the side of the head and neck, and a black crescent behind the eye.

   14.Crimson-backed Flameback  

 

 English Name: - Crimson-backed Flameback Sinhala Name: - Maha Rathu Kerala

Scientific Name: - Chrysocolaptes stricklandi

 The Greater Flameback, Chrysocolaptes lucidus, also known as Greater Golden back, Large Golden-backed Woodpecker or Malherbe's Golden-backed Woodpecker, is a woodpecker species. It occurs widely in tropical Asia, from the Indian subcontinent eastwards to Indonesia and the Philippines. The Greater Flameback is a large woodpecker, at 33 cm in length. It is of typical woodpecker shape, has an erect crest and a long neck. Coloration is highly variable between subspecies; it always has unmarked golden-yellow to dark brown back and wings. The rump is red and the tail is black. The under parts are white with dark markings (chevrons, stripes, or bands), or light brown. The head is whitish with a black pattern, or it is yellow, brown or red. The straight pointed bill is long (longer than the head) and – like the legs and four-toed zygodactyl feet (two toes pointing forward, two backward) – lead-grey. The eyes'

irides are whitish to yellow.

The adult male Greater Flameback always has a red crown. Females have a crown color varying between subspecies, such as black spotted with white, yellow, or brown with lighter dots. Young birds are like the female, but duller, with brown irides.

The endemic Sri Lankan Crimson-backed Flameback; Chrysocolaptes stricklandi has very dark and rufous wings and a dark hind neck. It is sometimes considered a Greater    15. Red Rumped Swallow  

   

 English Name: - Red Rumped Swallow Sinhala Name: - Bada Rathu Wahi-lihiniya

Scientific Name: - Hirundo hyperythra  This bird has been recently recognized as a distinct species and added to the Sri Lankan endemic list. Sparrow sized and stockier than our other swallows, it is unmistakable with purple-blue glossed upperparts and rusty under parts and rump. Both sexes are alike. Young are duller.

The species is well distributed throughout the Island up to about 1500 metres elevation. The birds associate in pairs or more often in scattered groups and spend their time flying after the insect prey they feed on. The usual habitat is open areas such as paddy fields, roadsides, grasslands, grass covered hillsides etc. The flight is typical swallow type with the wings being open and shut at the wrist joint. The birds flutter the wings rapidly and then glide gracefully before fluttering the wings again. The flight is however not as fast as the other swallows’. This species commonly

associates with other swallows as well as swifts. They fly high as well as within a few feet from ground level. When not flying the birds sit in an open perch like a bare twig or power cable and preen them. The call is a pleasant muffled t’lee easily recognized when once heard. The birds also utter a loud twitter accompanied by a shuffling of wings.

The nest is made out of mud pellets and stuck to the underside of a disused flat roof, cave, bridge or culvert generally about three metres from ground level. It is a bottle gourd shaped structure with a long entrance on one side. The nest chamber is within the half dome and consists of feathers and fibre. Both sexes collect mud from the ground, mix with saliva and mould it to worm-cast like pellets and use these to build the nest. The two or three eggs are pure white in colour. The young continue to use the nest for roosting for sometime even after fully fledged. The adults too often use the same nest to breed again. The breeding season

is generally from March to July but some birds nest again later in the year.

 

16.Ceylon Wood Shrike 

   

 English Name: - Ceylon Wood Shrike Sinhala Name: - Wana KowulaspatiyaScientific Name: - Pondicerianus affinis

 The Ceylon Wood Shrike; Pondicerianus affinis is a nondescript, sparrow sized bird of mostly grey plumage. The male has a dark mask across the eye. A prominent feature which stands out in this drab plumage is a white rump bordered below with black upper tail coverts. The female is browner with a less prominent mask. The Wood Shrike is a common bird in the low country dry zone and ascends the hills to about 1200 metres especially on the dryer, eastern side. It is scarce and local in the wet zone.

This bird generally moves about in pair’s frequent scrub as well as large trees flitting about looking for the insects on which it feeds. The Wood Shrike generally avoids heavy forest. The bird would hardly be noticed if not for its distinctive, pleasant call which sounds like ‘twee-twee-twee-twee, twy, twy, twy, twy’ uttered rapidly on a descending scale.

The Ceylon Wood Shrike breeds during the

early part of the year building a well camouflaged small cup like nest stuck to the top of a horizontal branch or in a fork between two smaller branches. The nest is very difficult to spot unless the sitting bird is seen as it is well covered on the outside with cobweb and flakes. The young too are obliterating coloured to resemble a lichen covered outgrowth of a branch and are very difficult to spot. The nest is generally placed about 3 to 5 metres from ground level. They lay two to three eggs which are buff or greenish white in ground colour blotched all over with purplish-grey and brown. It usually moves about in pairs frequenting scrub as well as large trees flitting about looking for the insects on which it feeds. The Wood Shrike generally avoids heavy forest. The bird would hardly be noticed if not for its distinctive, pleasant call which sounds like ‘twee-twee-twee-twee, twy, twy, twy, twy’ uttered rapidly on a descending scale.  

16.Black- capped (crested) Bulbul  

   

 English Name: - Black- capped (crested) Bulbul Sinhala Name: - Hisa Kalu Kondaya Scientific Name: - Pycnonotus melanicterus

 The Black- capped Bulbul, Pycnonotus melanicterus, is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. The Black-capped Bulbul (P. melanicterus) from Sri Lanka is virtually crestless, has a yellow throat and brownish eyes. This is a bird of forest and dense scrub. It builds its nest in a bush; two to four eggs is a typical clutch. The Black-crested Bulbul feeds on fruit and insects. The Black-crested Bulbul is about 19 cm (7 in)

in length, including its relatively long tail. It has olive upperparts and yellow or olive-yellow under parts. The head is black. Sexes are similar in plumage, but young birds are duller than adults. The flight is bouncing and woodpecker-like.

Somewhat smaller than the well known Red-vented Bulbul, its black cap, yellow underparts and green-ochre upper plumage makes it easy to recognize. It could only be confused with the Yellow browed Bulbul, which does not however have the black cap and white edges to the tail quills. The sexes are similar except that the iris of the male is crimson red while that of the female is deep brown.

This is a bird of forest and other well wooded habitat. It is found throughout the low country and up to the mid hills. It usually moves about in pairs but small parties are also met with. It inhabits trees as well as shrubs, feeding on both fruits and insects. Like all bulbuls it is an active bird moving quickly from tree to tree

while searching for food. It has a mournful three syllable song on an ascending scale and a variety of other calls. Nesting occurs in April-May with a secondary season in August-September especially in the hills. The nest is almost always placed in a small sapling at the forest edge, bordering a jungle path or a stream. It is not placed at any great height being between one to three metres from ground level. The nest is well hidden as the sapling chosen is often one which is covered with creepers.

The nest is a typical bulbul type cup. However it is always rested on an underlying platform of broad leaves. During initial nest building both birds carry broad green leaves and build this platform plastering them in place with cobweb. They lay two eggs at a time. They are pinkish in ground colour profusely spotted and speckled with reddish brown, these being more concentrated at the broader end. Both birds build the nest, incubate and feed the young.  

 17.Yellow-eared Bulbul  

   

 English Name: - Yellow-eared Bulbul Sinhala Name: - Kaha Kondaya Scientific Name: - Pycnonotus penicillatus

 The Yellow-eared Bulbul, Pycnonotus penicillatus, is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is an endemic resident breeder in the highlands of Sri Lanka. This is a bird of jungle and wooded farmland. Despite its restricted range, it is quite readily found at sites such as Horton Plains and Victoria Park in Nuwara Eliya. It builds its nest in a bush; two eggs is a typical clutch. The Yellow-eared Bulbul is about 20 cm (7 inches) in length,

with a long tail. It has olive upperparts and yellowish under parts. The crown of the head is grey, and there are yellow ear tufts and a yellow patch below the eye. There is a white tuft in front of the eye and the throat is also white. This is another endemic Bulbul. It is about the same size as a Red-vented Bulbul but fuller plumaged. The distinctive black and white head markings and yellow ‘ear tufts’ makes its identification easy. Both sexes are alike in appearance.

This is primarily a hill bird found only above 1000 metres but is not really common below 1300 metres. Above this elevation it is a familiar and pleasing sight in our hill stations. It inhabits forest, well wooded areas, gardens and orchards. The species usually moves about in pairs but parties congregate where food is plentiful. It is a very active bird which moves about looking for the insects and fruit on which it feeds. It is very fond of the fruit of the wild yellow raspberry which grows in the hills. The

call is a pleasant, musical weet, wit wit, wit wit, usually uttered on the wing which is easily recognizable when once heard. A low crr, crr alarm call is also uttered.

The breeding season is from March to May with a secondary season from August to October. The nest is more substantial than most other bulbul nests, being larger and more solid. It is constructed with moss, lined with fine ferns, rootlets and placed in a small tree or bush about three to five metres from ground level. Two eggs are usually laid which are white or pale pink in ground colour heavily blotched with reddish purple or reddish brown and underlying markings of lavender.  18. Sri Lanka Spotted-winged Thrush  

   

 English Name: - Sri Lanka Spotted-winged Thrush Sinhala Name: - Lanka Thithpiya Thirasikaya Scientific Name: - Zoothera spiloptera  The Spot-winged Thrush, Zoothera spiloptera, is an Asian Thrush; It is an endemic resident breeder in Sri Lanka. This uncommon species breeds in hill rainforests, and to a lesser extent in drier woodlands, at altitudes between 500 and 2000 metres. The wintering areas are similar but include less well-wooded areas, and are generally at 750 to 1500 metres altitude. The Spot-winged Thrush is generally solitary, and like many Zoothera thrushes, can be quite secretive, especially in the dense undergrowth and bamboo clumps it favours.

Spot-winged Thrushes are omnivorous, but eat far more insects than fruit. They feed on the ground. Spot-winged Thrush; identified by its olive-brown upper parts, two rows of white spots on the median and greater wing coverts, characteristic markings on the face and inverted fan shaped black spots on the breast and flanks. Sexes are similar. Young have paler streaked upper parts and buff lower parts with coalescing spots. The characteristic facial pattern is present in the young but is more indistinct.

Not uncommon in damp, evergreen forest in the wet lowlands and ranging up to 2000 metres (commoner below 1500 metres). Also occurs in secondary scrub, plantations and occasionally gardens adjacent to forest. It is scarce and local in the dry zone occurring in riverine forests.

This is a terrestrial species which feeds mostly on the ground in the typical thrush manner,

turning over leaves vigorously. Birds are often met with in the mornings and evenings feeding along jungle trails. This thrush has a quaint habit of perching on slight elevations or twigs on the ground. The Spotted-winged Thrush is a beautiful songster, singing with a variety of human sounding rich whistling notes. It also utters a thin, high pitched call when alarmed or as a warning to its mate. Food consists of insects, worms etc but the bird probably feeds on berries as well.

The species is double brooded. Nests are met with in March-April and again in August-November. The nest is generally placed in a low exposed fork of a sapling or small tree at a height from 4-8 feet within the forest. The nest looks like a mass of jungle debris collected in a fork comprising of dead and decaying leaves, stems etc with a small tolerably neat cup in the center lined with fine rootlets and leaf midribs. The rim is often finished with moss. Where moss is plentiful more of it is used in the

construction of the nest.

The eggs are generally two in number. The ground colour varies from pale cream-buff to pale grey-green, profusely covered with small spots, blotches and streaks of light reddish brown all over with some underlying markings of lavender-pink. Both birds probably incubate and feed the young. Sinharaja and Kithulgala forest reserves are two locations where this species can be observed easily. 19.Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush  

   

 English Name: - Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush Sinhala Name: – Pethi-gomara Wal-avichchiya

Scientific Name: - Zoothera imbricata The Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush; Zoothera imbricata is a member of the thrush family Turdidae. This bird is a non-migratory resident breeder found in south western wetlands of the island of Sri Lanka. Zoothera imbricata is usually treated as a race of Z. dauma or the White's Thrush. It belongs in a group, possibly a super species, formed by that species and Z. lunulata, Z. heinei, Z. machiki, Z. talaseae, Z. margaretae etc., Z. imbricata being smaller, longer billed and Rufous below.

Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush is 24 cm. Olive brown above heavily scaled with black. Whitish throat; the rest of the under parts are tawny buff heavily scaled black, with whitish on belly and vent. Bill is rather large, blackish with paler lower mandible. Similar spp. the only other species of Zoothera thrush in the species’ range, Spot-winged Ground-thrush Zoothera spiloptera lacks scaling on the back and is

white rather than tawny coloured below. Voice song is a series of prolonged, single, sibilant, rich whistles. Not loud but far-carrying.

Distribution and population of Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush; Zoothera imbricata occurs in the Wet Zone of south-west Sri Lanka. Its population is thought to be moderately small as it is reportedly uncommon. It resides in moist evergreen forests from 400 to 2,200 m within the 'Wet Zone' of Sri Lanka. A recent record suggests the species also inhabits forest in the 'Intermediate Zone'. Also recorded from plantations, copses and parks. 20.Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush  

   

 

English Name: - Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush Sinhala Name: - Lanka Arangaya Scientific Name: - Myiophoneus blighi The Sri Lanka Whistling-thrush, Myiophoneus blighi, is a whistling thrush in the thrush family Turdidae. It is a resident endemic bird in Sri Lanka. In Sinhala, Sri Lanka Whistling-thrush is called Lanka Arangaya.

It is found in the highlands of Sri Lanka in jungle or other dense forest near water and is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, frogs, earthworms and berries. It lays one or two eggs in a neat cup-shaped nest in a bush or on a ledge near water. Sri Lanka Whistling-thrush does not form flocks, although several birds may be loosely associated in suitable habitat.This is a small whistling thrush; at only 20 cm. Adult males are dark blue with a darker head and back. There are bright blue patches on the shoulders, super cilia and forehead. The female

is brown above and chestnut below, but has a bright blue shoulder patch like the male. The male sings its simple whistling song from trees, usually in deep cover.This is a notoriously difficult species to see, even when the males are singing in the breeding season, which starts in February. It is very shy, scarce, localised and declining due to habitat loss. Perhaps the best chance is at dawn at Horton Plains National Park, 2000m up in the highlands of Sri Lanka.

 21.Sri Lanka Dull Blue Flycatcher 

   

 English Name: - Sri Lanka Dull Blue Flycatcher Sinhala Name: - Lanka Andurunil-Masimara Scientific Name: - Eumyias sordida  The Dull-blue Flycatcher, Eumyias sordida, is a small passerine bird in the flycatcher family Muscicapidae. This species is an endemic resident breeder in the hills of central Sri Lanka. The Dull-blue Flycatcher breeds in deciduous mountain forest, invariably above 600 metres, although it is not common below 900 metres. The main breeding season is in March and April, but a second brood is often reared later in the year.

The cup-shaped nest is a lined compact mass of moss. The site is usually a well-shaded rock

ledge. The normal clutch is two or three brown-spotted pink eggs are laid. One of the best places to see this species is Horton Plains National Park. This species is 15 cm long. It is similar in shape to the Spotted Flycatcher and has a loud melodic song. Adults are ashy blue, with a whitish belly. There is a black patch between the broad black bill and the eye, bordered with brighter blue above and below. Sexes are similar, but females are slightly duller. Juvenile Dull-blue Flycatchers are brown, heavily spotted on the head, back, wing-coverts and breast with pale buff; their flight feathers are broadly edged with blue-grey.

This is relatively easy bird to see, despite its forest habitat. It feeds mainly on flying insects, beetles, caterpillars and other insects, but also eats berries.

22.Ashy-headed Laughing Thrush  

   

 English Name: - Ashy-headed Laughing Thrush Sinhala Name: - Alu Demalichcha Scientific Name: - Garrulax cinereifrons

 The Ashy-headed Laughing Thrush, Garrulax cinereifrons, is an Old World babbler. The Old World babblers are a large family of Old World passerine birds characterised by soft fluffy plumage. These are birds of tropical areas, with the greatest variety in Southeast Asia.

The Ashy-headed Laughing Thrush is a rangy bird, 23 centimetres (9 in) in length with a long floppy tail. It is Rufous brown above and deep buff below, with a grey head and white throat.

Like other babblers, these are noisy birds, and the characteristic laughing calls are often the best indication that they are present, since they are often difficult to see in their preferred habitat.

The Ashy-headed Laughing Thrush is a resident breeding bird endemic to Sri Lanka. Its habitat is rainforest, and it is seldom seen away from deep jungle or dense bamboo thickets in the wet zone. This species, like most babblers, is not migratory, and has short rounded wings and a weak flight.

Although its habitat is under threat, this Laughing Thrush occurs in all the forests of the wet zone, and is quite common at prime sites like Kithulgala and Sinharaja. It builds its nest in a bush, concealed in dense masses of foliage. The normal clutch is three or four eggs. As with other babbler species, Ashy-headed Laughing Thrushes frequently occur in groups of up to a dozen, and are also often

found in the mixed feeding flocks typical of tropical Asian jungle. They feed mainly on insects, but also eat jungle berries.

23.Brown Capped Babbler  

   

 English Name: - Brown Capped Babbler Sinhala Name: - Lanka Mudun Bora Demalichcha Scientific Name: - Pellorneum fuscocapillus

 The Brown-capped Babbler; Pellorneum fuscocapillus is an endemic resident breeding bird in Sri Lanka. Its habitat is forest undergrowth and thick scrub. This species, like most babblers, is not migratory, and has short

rounded wings and a weak flight. This babbler builds its nest on the ground or in a hole, concealed in dense masses of foliage. The normal clutch is two or three eggs. The Brown-capped Babbler measures 16 cm including its long tail. It is brown above and rich cinnamon below. It has a dark brown crown. Brown-capped Babblers have short dark bills. Their food is mainly insects. They can be difficult to observe in the dense vegetation they prefer, but like other babblers, these are noisy birds, and their characteristic calls are often the best indication that these birds are present.

The Brown-capped Babbler (Pellorneum fuscocapillus) is an Old World babbler. The Old World babblers are a large family of passerine birds characterised by soft fluffy plumage. These are birds of tropical areas, with the greatest variety in Southeast Asia.    24.Ceylon Scimitar Babbler

 

   

 English Name: - Ceylon Scimitar Babbler Sinhala Name: - Dekathi Demalichcha Scientific Name: - Pomatorhinus melanurus  The Sri Lanka Scimitar-babbler or Ceylon Scimitar-babbler (Pomatorhinus melanurus) is an Old World babbler. It is endemic to the Island of Sri Lanka, and was formerly treated as a subspecies of Indian Scimitar-babbler. The nominate form is found in the western part of wet hill regions of Sri Lanka, while race holdsworthi is found in the dry lowlands and eastern hills.

Most Scimitar-babbler species are referred as parandel kurulla by the Sinhala speaking community. The term 'parandel' refers to dried

grass and probably refers to the color of the bird. The vernacular name of the bird parandel kurulla roughly translates to English as 'dried-grass colored bird'. This bird appears in a 4.50 rupee Sri Lankan postal stamp. 25.Sri Lanka Orange-billed Babbler 

   

 English Name: - Sri Lanka Orange-billed BabblerSinhala Name: - Rathu Demalichcha Scientific Name: - Turdoides rufescens

 The Orange-billed Babbler, Turdoides rufescens, also known as Ceylon Rufous Babbler or Sri Lankan Rufous Babbler is an

Old World babbler. The Old World babblers are a large family of Old World passerine birds characterized by soft fluffy plumage. These are birds of tropical areas, with the greatest variety in Southeast Asia.

The Orange-billed Babbler is a resident breeding bird endemic to Sri Lanka. In the past, it was considered to be a race of Jungle Babbler, Turdoides striatus. Its habitat is rainforest, and it is seldom seen away from deep jungle. This species, like most babblers, is not migratory, and has short rounded wings and a weak flight. Although its habitat is under threat, it occurs in all the forests of the wet zone, and is quite common at prime sites like Kithulgala and Sinharaja. It builds its nest in a tree, concealed in dense masses of foliage. The normal clutch is two or three deep greenish blue eggs.

These birds are plain orange brown below, and have a slightly darker shade above. The crown and nape are grey, and the bill is orange. The

Orange-billed Babbler lives in flocks of seven to ten or more. It is a noisy bird, and the presence of a flock may generally be known at some distance by the continual chattering, squeaking and chirping produced by its members. It is usually the first sign that a mixed-species feeding flock, so characteristic of Asian wet forests, is in the vicinity. It feeds mainly on insects, but also eats jungle berries. 26.Sri Lanka Bush Warbler  

   

 English Name: - Sri Lanka Bush Warbler Sinhala Name: - Lanka Rusi-Raviya Scientific Name: - Elaphrornis palliseri

 

The Sri Lanka Bush Warbler, Ceylon Bush Warbler or Palliser's Warbler (Elaphrornis palliseri) is an Old World warbler which is an endemic resident breeder in Sri Lanka, where it is the only bush warbler. The Sri Lanka Bush Warbler has sometimes been placed in the genus Bradypterus; it appears to be closely related to that genus, but differs in structure (relatively shorter-tailed and longer-billed), plumage (unmarked) and song. It is monotypic.

The Sri Lanka Bush Warbler is a bird of dense forest undergrowth, often close to water. It is found in the highlands of central Sri Lanka, usually above 1200 m. The nest is built in a shrub, and two eggs are laid.This is a medium-large warbler at 14 cm. The adult has a plain brown back, pale grey under parts, a broad tail and short wings. There is a weak super cilium, and the throat is tinged orange. The sexes are identical, as with most warblers, but young birds lack the throat colouration. The Sri Lanka Bush Warbler is a

skulk species which can very difficult to see. Perhaps the best site is Horton Plains National Park. It keeps low in vegetation, and, like most warblers, it is insectivorous. Males are often only detected by the loud song, which has an explosive queer. 27.White-throated Flowerpecker 

   

 English Name: - White-throated FlowerpeckerSinhala Name: - Lanka Pilalichcha Scientific Name: - Dicaeum vincens

 White-throated Flowerpecker (Dicaeum vincens) is a small passerine bird. It is an endemic resident breeder in Sri Lanka. It is

named after the Australian ornithologist William Vincent Legge. White-throated Flowerpecker is a common resident breeding bird of forests and other well-wooded habitats including gardens. Two eggs are laid in a purse-like nest suspended from a tree.

This is a very small, stout Flowerpecker, 10 cm in length, with a short tail, short thick curved bill and tubular tongue. The latter features reflect the importance of nectar in its diet, although berries, spiders and insects are also taken.

The male White-throated Flowerpecker has blue-black upperparts, a white throat and upper breast, and yellow lower breast and belly. The female is duller, with olive-brown upperparts.  28.Sri Lanka White-eye 

   

 English Name: - Sri Lanka White-eye Sinhala Name: - Lanka Sithasiya Scientific Name: -Zosterops ceylonensis  The Sri Lanka White-eye, Zosterops ceylonensis, is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family. It is a resident breeder in forests, gardens and plantations which is endemic to Sri Lanka, mainly in the highlands.

This bird is slightly larger than the Oriental White-eye (about 11 cm long) which it replaces above 4000 ft. The upper parts of the body and sides of neck are dark olive green. The rump appears paler green while the crown and forehead appear darker. The wings and tail are brown edged with green on the back. The typical ring of tiny white feathers around the

eye is present. The lores are dark and there is a dark streak below the eye. The chin, throat and upper breast are greenish-yellow as are the thighs and vent. The belly region is grayish white. The dark bill has a slaty base to the lower mandible. The legs are dark. The iris is yellow to reddish-brown.

This species can be distinguished from the widespread Oriental White-eye, Zosterops palpebrosus, by its larger size, duller green back and more extensive yellow on the breast. It has a darker patch between the eye and the bill. It is sociable, forming large flocks which only separate on the approach of the breeding season. It builds a tree nest and lays 3 unspotted pale blue eggs. Though mainly insectivorous, Sri Lankan White-eye will also eat nectar and fruits of various kinds.

The English and scientific names refer to the conspicuous ring of white feathers round the eyes, Zosterops being Greek for girdle-eye.

  29.Sri Lanka White-headed Starling  

   

 English Name: - Sri Lanka White-headed Starling Sinhala Name: – Hisa-sudu Sharikava Scientific Name: - Sturnia albofrontata  The White-faced Starling, Sturnus albofrontatus, is a member of the starling family of birds. It is an endemic resident breeder in Sri Lanka. It was for a long time erroneously known as S. senex; this was

eventually identified as a junior synonym of the Red-billed Starling (Mees 1997).

The adults of these 22 cm-long birds have green-glossed dark grey upperparts and whitish under parts. The head is paler than the under parts. The sexes are similar, but juveniles are duller, with brown upperparts and greyer under parts.The White-faced Starling, Sturnus albofrontatus, is another hill country endemic recorded only above 1000 m altitude where it could be the commonest bird. Forms scattered flocks except in the breeding season, when it pairs up. Slightly larger than the similar looking oriental White-eye and also is of a darker jungle green plumage. The white eye-ring is more widely broken is front than in Oriental. Lower breast, belly and flanks are grayish-white. Nuwara-Eliya and Horton Plains are two of the best sites for this species.This passerine is typically found in tall forest, usually high in the canopy. The White-faced Starling builds its nest in a hole. The

normal clutch is two eggs.Like most starlings, the White-faced Starling is fairly omnivorous, eating fruit, nectar and insects. 30.Sri Lanka Mynah 

 

 English Name: - Sri Lanka Mynah Sinhala Name: - Lanka Salalihiniya Scientific Name: - Gracula ptilogenys  The Sri Lanka Myna, Ceylon Myna or Sri Lanka Hill Myna (Gracula ptilogenys), is a Myna, a member of the starling family. This bird is endemic to Sri Lanka.This passerine is typically found in forest and

cultivation. The Sri Lanka Myna builds a nest in a hole. The normal clutch is two eggs.

These 25 cm long birds have green-glossed black plumage, purple-tinged on the head and neck. There are large white wing patches, which are obvious in flight. The strong legs are bright yellow, and there are yellow wattles on the nape.

The different shape and position of the wattles and the stouter orange-red bill distinguish this species from the Southern Hill Myna, which also occurs in Sri Lankan forests. The sexes are similar, but juveniles have a duller bill.

Rather larger than the Common Mynah; larger than the Salalihiniya but very similar to it except having only one part of wattles, those at the back of the head, and some black at the base of the beak. Sexes are alike, and the young differ only in being duller, and having smaller wattles. It lives in scattered in colonies, but does not seem to be as gregarious as

Salalihiniya (The Common Hill-Myna), usually occurring in pairs. It loves high trees, and may be found in the heart of tall forests, as well as on estates and village gardens in their neighbourhood. It is a restless bird. The food consists of wild fruits such as, Bo and Nuga figs, wild nutmegs, and Sapu seeds.

The breeding season is February-May and a secondary season in August-September. The nest is made in a cavity in a tree-bole or large branch. The two eggs are pale Prussian blue, blotched with purplish brown. They measure about 33×25mm. Sri Lanka Mynah inhabits the forests and well-wooded areas of the wet zone, the hills, and the wetter districts of the south and west, to at least 6,000 feet. Occasionally it strays into the drier, eastern slopes of the main range, but it is essentially a bird of the wet-zone hills. Like most starlings, the Sri Lanka Myna is fairly omnivorous, eating fruit, nectar and

insects.

 31.Ceylon Crested Drongo  

   

 English Name: - Ceylon Crested Drongo Sinhala Name: - Konda KawdaScientific Name: - Dicrurus lophorinus / Dicrurus paradiseus Identification Black plumage with metallic blue or greenish-blue gloss Arching, helmet-like crest Deeply forked tail Red eye

Sexes similar

BehaviorForest, forest edges, plantations, wooded gardens.Like most Drongo’s, hawks after insects from open perches.A superb mimic of the calls of other birds but always has a metallic sound.

Ceylon Crested Drongo (Dicrurus lophorinus)

Formerly, regarded as a race of the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, which occur as a dry zone race. Generally, the Ceylon Crested Drongo has a smaller and brush-like frontal crest and a deeply forked tail, without rackets. In some birds, the crest can be as pronounced as in the Racket-tailed Drongo. This leads to disparities in the published literature. It is a highly vocal bird and is easily located as a result. It is a nucleus species in feeding flocks. It has a variety of loud, bell-like calls and

chatter, which enliven the forest. It also has harsh calls, and mimics a variety of birds and a few animals.