Endemic birdsof srilanka
There are 34 identified species of endemic
birds in Sri Lanka, which is the high point of birding in Sri Lanka. Most
of them are restricted to the highly fragmented wet zone forests of Sri
Lanka consisting of a land area of only 750 square kilometers. Given the
significance of endemic birds, a brief description on the endemics are
given below.
1. Sri Lanka Wood pigeon. (Columba
torringtonii)
This endemic pigeon loves high altitude undisturbed forests above 1650
m altitude where it mostly spends its time in the forest canopy. It seasonally
comes down to much lower altitudes such as Sinharaja (300 m) and Gampola
(625 m) making exception to the original understanding. Hakgala, Horton
Plains and Riversturn are some of the locations to see this shy endemic
bird.
2. Sri Lanka Whistling-thrush. (Myophonus
blighi)
This rare shy bird also known as the Arrenga occurs in undisturbed forests
between 1200-2100 m altitude and has restricted distribution. It prefers
streamside habitats. 'Arrenga pool' in Horton Plains and Fishing hut in
Moray estate are probably the best locations to view this rare crepuscular
bird.
3. Legge's Flowerpecker. (Dicaeum vincens)
This elegant bird is found mainly in the southwestern wet zone forests
of Sri Lanka up to 900-m altitude where it prefers tall trees. It feeds
on nectar and fruits and is normally found hanging acrobatically on tips
of branches trying to reach the flowers. The Dipterocarp rich forests
of Sri Lanka especially Sinharaja, Gilimale, Kithulgala and Kanneliya
are probably the best places to see it.
4. Orange-billed Babbler. (Turdoides rufescens)
This forest bird is usually found in small groups of 10-15 in undisturbed
forests and peripheral villages where it is often heard before seen. It
leads the mixed species bird flock of Sinharaja Forest where it could
be seen along with some other endemic birds. It is found in most undisturbed
wet zone forests up to 2100-m altitude.
This bird prefers thick undergrowth and is distributed
in both wet and dry zone habitats up to 1600-m altitude. It utters a characteristic
call which is heard like 'pretty dear', often heard in the mornings and
evenings. It is found even outside forests where suitable scrub vegetation
provides the ideal habitat. The reforestation site in Hunas Falls Hotel
is one of the easiest places to spot it in the evenings.
6. Ashy-headed Laughingthrush. (Garrulax
cinereifrons)
This bird is found associated with Orange-billed Babblers in the mixed
species bird flocks in Sinharaja where it could be easily seen in the
undergrowth often making constant chattering. It is recorded up to 1300
m altitude strictly in undisturbed forests of wet zone.
7. Sri Lanka Myna. (Gracula ptilogenys)
This fruit loving bird is restricted to the forests of wet zone from 300-1,600m
altitude and is often found perched on tall trees. Lowland forests of
Kithulgala, Gilimale and Sinharaja are some of the locations to catch
a glimpse of this rare bird where the loud calls made from the top of
the forest canopy are often heard a long distance away helping to locate
it
8. Yellow-eared Bulbul. (Pycnonotus penicillatus)
This montane bird is usually found in forested habitats above 1700 m in
the higher hills. Horton Plains is probably the easiest location to see
this endemic bird in large numbers. However it is also known to be present
in higher elevations of Sinharaja and Knucles range below
1700 m.
9. White-faced Starling. (Sturnus albofrontatus)
This rare bird usually occupies the canopy of the forest and is an unmistakable
member in the mixed species bird flocks in Sinharaja. This strictly arboreal
bird could be seen in undisturbed forests of wet zone from 300-1200 m
altitude. It could be seen also in Kithulgala and in the Knucles range.
10. Sri Lanka Blue Magpie. (Urocissa ornata)
Undoubtedly one of the most colourful endemics of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka
Blue Magpie is a rare bird, which prefers undisturbed wet zone forests
up to 2100 m altitude. Their loud calls often betray their presence.
11. Sri Lanka White-eye. (Zosterops ceylonensis)
This primarily hill country bird is recorded mainly above 1000 m altitude.
It could be seen in pairs in its breeding season and in large flocks during
non-breeding season. Horton Plains National Park is probably one of the
best locations to see this small endemic bird.
12. Sri Lanka Junglefowl. (Gallus lafayettii)
This large terrestrial bird is found in both dry and wet zone forests
up to 2100 m altitude. It is more often heard than seen in most of its
range. Sri Lanka Junglefowl could be seen on roadsides close to the forest
in Sinharaja often followed by its harem.
13. Sri Lanka Spurfowl. (Galloperdix bicalcarata)
This shy terrestrial bird is mainly restricted to the undisturbed forests
of the wet zone and is more often heard but rarely seen. Like the former
it could be seen on roadsides in forested areas. Sinharaja, Kanneliya
and Dombagaskanda are some of the locations to see this elusive bird.
14. Red-faced Malkoha. (Phaenicophaeus
pyrrhocephalus).
This forest dwelling bird could be seen up to 1300 m altitude in undisturbed
wet zone forests and along few of the tall riverine vegetation areas in
the dry zone forests. Red-faced Malkoha could be seen in the mixed species
bird flock in Sinharaja forest where it is often found in tall trees.
15. Sri Lanka Green-billed Coucal. (Centropus chlororhynchos)
This bird is found in undisturbed wet zone forests up to 800 m altitude,
often in places where there is dense bamboo vegetation. One of the best
locations to see this elusive endemic bird is Dombagaskanda.
16. Dull-blue Flycatcher. (Eumyias sordida)
This confiding bird is not bothered the close presence of birdwatchers.
It is normally found in forested areas between 1600m- 2000m altitudes:
Hakgala, Corbett's Gap and Horton Plains are a few of the locations it
could be observed with relative ease.
17. Sri Lanka Bush-warbler. (Bradypterus
palliseri)
This hill country bird is found mostly above 1500 m in dense undergrowth.
Horton Plains is arguably the best location to see this rare endemic bird
where it is mostly found around bamboo vegetation along the streams.
18. Spot-winged Thrush. (Zoothera spiloptera)
This mostly terrestrial bird is mainly found in the wet zone forests between
300m-1300m altitude and is often heard Sinharaja, Kithulgala and Dombagaskanda
are some of the locations where it could be seen at dawn and dusk especially
along the forest footpaths.
19. Yellow-fronted Barbet. (Megalaima flavifrons)
One of the commonest endemic birds of Sri Lanka, Yellow-fronted Barbets
could be observed in forests as well as peripheral villages. It makes
a peculiar call, which is audible over a distance and could be observed
in the mixed species bird flocks in Sinharaja.
20. Layard's Parakeet. (Psittacula calthropae)
This parakeet is recorded up to 1700-m altitude in forested and well-wooded
garden habitats and could be easily identified by the call often made
while on flight. It is also occasionally present in the mixed species
bird flock in Sinharaja.
21. Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot. (Loriculus
beryllinus)
This small bird is distributed widely in the wet zone where it is quite
common, up to the mid hills. In the dry zone it is found in small isolated
pockets, often in riverine areas or where intermediate forest is present.
It roosts almost like a bat with the body hanging down: the reason for
its common name. They make a sharp repeated call while in flight making
it easy to notice a passing bird.
22. Chestnut-backed Owlet. (Glaucidium
castanonotum)
This rare bird is found up to 2000-m altitude restricted to the undisturbed
forests of wet zone where it can often be heard during the day Sinharaja,
Gilimale and Kithulgala are some of the locations it could be seen. It
is found on tall trees of the forest canopy making it difficult to spot
it in the dense foliage.
23. Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill. (Ocyceros
gingalensis).
This large bird is mostly seen in pairs and is distributed in the dry
and wet zone forested areas alike, ascending to an elevation of 1,200
m in the central hills. Like most hornbills, the Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill
nest in holes in big trees where the female imprisons herself up by building
a wall like structure with its droppings covering the opening of the cavity,
leaving only a small opening for receiving food brought by the male. When
the young matures, the female breaks her way out and rebuilds the wall
and joins the male in feeding the young. Proposed Endemic Birds
24 Black-capped Bulbul (Pycnonotus melanicterus)
This is a fairly common species in forests and nearby gardens in wet lowlands
up to the lower hills. It is also found in the dry zone forests of the
North Central Province (e.g. Giritale), intermediate forests in the South
(e.g. Kekunadura in Matara) and Giritale, tall forests and riverine forests
in Udawalawe NP and Yala NP (Blocks 1 & 3). An easy bird to see as
it frequents low trees and bushes in edge habitats. Usually seen in pairs
but sometimes seen in small flocks. The bird often hovers briefly like
a Sunbird as it picks off insects off a tree. In flight, the white tip
to the tail is prominent. The call is a rapid 'pit-pit-pipit-....' and
it has soft whistling songs, some of them sad-sounding.
25 Ceylon Small Barbet (Megalaima rubricapillus)
A small, beautiful Barbet common throughout the lowlands to the mid hills.
The only endemic bird regularly seen in major cities like Colombo. But
easily overlooked due to its small size and colouration. Predominantly
green with red forehead, blue lower face, orange throat and "spectacles".
These features and uniform green underparts readily distinguish it from
the Coppersmith Barbet in areas where both can be found. Lives in pairs
but often single birds are seen on tall trees. Flocks may be found on
fruiting trees. . The male has two songs, uttered from tall tree tops:
a slow repeated 'pop, pop, pop, ...' and a repeated rapid 'popo-popo-popo-pop'
with a variable number of syllables.
26 Sri Lanka Hill Munia. (Lonchura kelaarti):
This Munia is found between 600m-2100m altitude in wet zone of Sri Lanka.
Horton Plains is one of the locations where it could be observed with
relative ease.
27 Pompadour Green Pigeon. (Treron pompadora)
The commonest of the Green Pigeons occurring in small flocks throughout
the island up to the mid hills. In the dry lowlands large flocks may at
times be encountered. See the Orange-breasted for details on separating
the females of the two species. Visitors are most likely to see them in
the national parks in the south. At times good numbers may be seen and
at other times they may be virtually absent due to local migrations. The
song is a beautiful, soft, modulated human-like whistle.
28 Serendib Scops Owl (Otus thilohoffmanni) The Serendib
Scops Owl is known only from a few lowland wet zone forests. It seems
to require fairly large, undisturbed tracts of forest. The bird was discovered
by Depal Warakagoda, one of the Master Naturalists of Jetwing Eco Holidays.
To book an Owling Tour, contact Jetwing Eco Holidays.
29 Crimson-backed Flameback (Chrysocolaptes stricklandi)
Distinguished from the similar Black-rumped Flamedback by its ivory coloured
bill and different call. The females has a black crown flecked in white.
It is found mainly in wet zone forests ascending all the way to the highlands.
It prefers more heavily wooded habitats than the Black-rumped Flameback.
Although perceived largely as a wet zone bird, it does occur in suitable
habitat in the dry zone as well, sometimes even wandering into coconut
groves.
30 Ceylon Swallow (Hirundo hyperythra): Found throughout
the lowlands and ascends the lower hills. It is easily distinguished from
the migrant Barn Swallow by the conspicuous red rump and chunkier build.
It wanders about a great deal and is equally at home hawking over lightly
forested valleys or over paddy fields. Although it flocks, solitary individuals
are just as likely to be seen.
31 Ceylon Woodshrike (Tephrodornis affinis): A rather
small grey coloured bird fairly common in the dry zone. Female is a little
duller and browner than the male. Both have a blackish stripe across the
eye like that in the true shrikes. Lives in pairs. The calls are a five-to-seven
syllabled 'chee-chee-...-chee' with the first syllables hurried and the
rest descending and a loud 'twee' sound often in the same pattern. Scarce
and scattered in the wet zone and ascends up to about the mid hills in
dryer parts.
32 Ceylon Scaly Thrush (Zoothera imbricata): A secretive
and fairly big ground thrush which has an attractive colour pattern. Its
golden-buff scaly pattern all over the body and stocky shape distinguish
it from the other thrushes and immatures of similar birds, with pale spots
or scaly pattern. It spends the day time in the undergrowth of thick wet
forests and if it appears in the adjoining open patches, it is usually
in the early morning. It is an uncommon bird confined to the forests in
the lower hills and above of the wet zone. It has a rather soft plain
whistle repeated several time at a stretch. It sings this song for few
times only at dawn. It also has a short high-pitched alarm call which
may be uttered any time of the day.
33 Ceylon Scimitar-Babbler (Pomatorhinus [schisticeps] melanurus):
What better way to wake up in the hills than to the mellow, bubbling
calls of the Scimitar Babbler, full of exuberance! It has a variety of
calls. In one of its duets, the male sings 'woop-oop-oopoop', and in another
'yok, ko-ko', and both are answered by the trilling sound of the female.
It is found throughout the Island ascending to the higher hills. It can
be found in village gardens but is unlikely to be found in areas where
good patches of forest are not nearby. The decurved bill and striped head
make it distinctive.
34 Ceylon Crested Drongo (Dicrurus lophorinus): Formerly
regarded as a race of the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, which occurs 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.
