Field Guide
Birds of Sri Lanka
33 species found nowhere else on earth.
Sri Lanka is one of Asia's premier birdwatching destinations. From the emerald rainforests of Sinharaja to the flamingo-filled lagoons of Bundala, the island rewards every birdwatcher — beginner or expert.
The Guide
29 Species to Know Before You Go
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Sri Lanka Junglefowl
Gallus lafayettiiSri Lanka's national bird and one of its most spectacular endemics. The male displays brilliant golden-red plumage. Found across forests island-wide and often heard at dawn.
Sri Lanka Blue Magpie
Urocissa ornataOne of the most beautiful birds in Asia — vivid blue and chestnut with a long elegant tail. Travels in noisy family parties through the wet zone rainforest canopy.
Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot
Loriculus beryllinusA tiny, brilliantly green endemic parrot that roosts hanging upside down from branches. Common in forest gardens and wet zone forests, often spotted at fruiting trees.
Brown Fish Owl
Ketupa zeylonensisA large owl with piercing golden eyes. Sri Lanka holds unusually high numbers compared to much of this species' wider Asian range.
Layard's Parakeet
Psittacula calthrapaeSoft grey-green head, vivid red bill, and emerald body. Feeds in noisy flocks through the forest canopy, often alongside other parakeet species.
Spot-Winged Thrush
Geokichla spilopteraAn endemic ground thrush identified by bold black facial stripes, a rufous crown, and two rows of white spots across the wing. Forages quietly among leaf litter in wet zone forest.
Ceylon Paradise-Flycatcher (White)
Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensisThe striking white morph of this endemic subspecies — glossy black head, soft crest, and long white tail streamers trailing through the canopy.
Ceylon Paradise-Flycatcher
Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensisThe typical rufous morph — deep chestnut body, glossy blue-black head, and elongated tail streamers, common through Sri Lanka's forests and gardens.
Yellow-Fronted Barbet
Psilopogon flavifronsAn endemic barbet with a vivid yellow face and heavy red bill, calling from the mid-canopy — a familiar sound of Sri Lanka's wet zone forests.
Sri Lanka Rufous Babbler
Argya rufescensBright orange bill and legs against rufous-brown plumage. Travels in noisy flocks through the forest understory, constantly chattering.
Little Cormorant
Microcarbo nigerA familiar sight on lagoons, often perched upright on posts drying its wings after diving for fish.
Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher
Ceyx erithacaFiery orange body, lilac rump, and deep purple wings. Darts along shaded forest streams, easy to miss but unmistakable when seen.
Crested Serpent Eagle
Spilornis cheela spilogasterSri Lanka's most common large raptor. This younger bird shows the paler, white-flecked head typical before adult plumage develops. Feeds mainly on snakes and other reptiles.
Jungle Owlet
Glaucidium radiatumA tiny, finely barred owl with piercing yellow eyes and no ear tufts. Often perches openly in daylight and can be mobbed by small birds when discovered at its roost.
Black-Winged Kite
Elanus caeruleusA pale, owl-faced raptor with striking red eyes and black shoulder patches. Hunts by hovering over open grassland, kestrel-style, scanning for rodents below.
Sri Lanka Frogmouth (Pair)
Batrachostomus moniligerA masterclass in camouflage — the rufous-brown female and grey-brown male roost side by side, motionless, resembling broken branches. Nocturnal and rarely seen by day.
Tickell's Blue Flycatcher (Male)
Cyornis tickelliae jerdoniA small, vivid flycatcher with deep blue upperparts and a warm orange throat fading to white below. The Sri Lankan race is its own endemic subspecies, found in scrub and forest edge.
Grey-Headed Swamphen
Porphyrio poliocephalusA large, deep blue-purple wetland bird with a pale grey head and a stout red bill. Walks confidently across floating vegetation, often flicking its tail to flash white undertail feathers.
Crimson-Backed Flameback (Female)
Chrysocolaptes stricklandiAn endemic woodpecker with a deep crimson back and an ivory-coloured bill. This female shows the black-and-white spotted forehead that distinguishes her from the fully red-crowned male.
White-Browed Fantail
Rhipidura aureolaA small, restless flycatcher known for fanning its tail as it darts through the undergrowth. This younger bird shows the rufous-tipped feathers typical of immature plumage, paling as it matures.
Sri Lanka Green Pigeon
Treron pompadoraA plump, fruit-eating endemic with a soft yellow head and breast and a deep maroon back found only in males. Quiet and easily overlooked among the canopy foliage it feeds in.
Orange Minivet
Pericrocotus flammeusA vivid forest songbird — glossy black head and upperparts contrasted against a fiery orange-scarlet body. Usually travels in small, active flocks through the mid and upper canopy.
Black-Hooded Oriole
Oriolus xanthornusA striking yellow bird with a solid black hood and a bright red bill. Frequently visits fig and fruiting trees in gardens, groves, and open woodland across the island.
Malabar Pied Hornbill
Anthracoceros coronatusA large black-and-white hornbill with a heavy yellow bill and casque. Near Threatened across its range, it favours evergreen and deciduous forest in Sri Lanka's dry zone.
Pied Kingfisher
Ceryle rudisA striking black-and-white kingfisher, often seen hovering over lakes and lagoons before diving for fish. Common and conspicuous across the island's waterways.
Indian Blue Robin
Larvivora brunneaA shy, ground-loving migrant with deep blue upperparts and an orange breast. Arrives in Sri Lanka's hill forests each winter, skulking through dense undergrowth and leaf litter.
Tickell's Blue Flycatcher
Cyornis tickelliae jerdoniA small, upright flycatcher of dense scrub and forest edge. The Sri Lankan race is its own distinct subspecies, often spotted sallying for insects from a low perch.
Sri Lanka White-Eye
Zosterops ceylonensisAn endemic highland species named for its bold ring of white feathers around the eye. Travels in sociable flocks through montane forest, gardens, and tea country.
Square-Tailed Bulbul
Hypsipetes ganeesa humiiA sooty-grey bulbul with a shaggy black crest and a bright red bill, often heard giving its odd cat-like meow. Travels in noisy flocks through montane wet zone forest.
Interested in mammals and reptiles too? See the Sri Lanka Wild Animals guide, or book the 9-day Sri Lanka Birdwatching Tour to see these species in the field.
Common Questions
Sri Lanka Birding, Answered
How many endemic bird species does Sri Lanka have?
Sri Lanka has 33 bird species found nowhere else on earth, out of 453 species recorded on the island, making it one of Asia's premier birdwatching destinations for a compact area.
Where is the best place to see endemic birds?
Sinharaja Forest Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage rainforest, holds the highest concentration of lowland endemics. Highland species are best found in the central hill country and montane forests.
When is the best time for birdwatching in Sri Lanka?
Endemic species can be seen year-round, but migratory birds are best from December to March, when the northern wetlands host large numbers of wintering species alongside Sri Lanka's residents.
Do I need a specialist guide to see endemic birds?
It's not strictly required, but a specialist local guide dramatically improves your odds — many endemics are quiet, canopy-dwelling, or found only at specific known sites, and knowing their calls and habits saves hours of searching.
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