SEABIRD WATCHING IN SRI LANKA

Watching pelagic birds: There are about 20 species of pelagic birds annually migrating to the coastal waters of Sri Lanka . This includes interesting species in Indian Ocean such as Barau’s Petrel, Jouanin’s Petrel, Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel, etc. We organize off shore boat trips to watch these species, on request. Please see ‘ Table 2 ‘ below for the list of pelagic birds found off Sri Lanka. For more information

» Itineraries
Pelagic birds which are possible to find on special excursions during certain periods:

Table 2 : pelagic birds found off Sri Lanka
Barau’s Petrel – Pterodroma baraui Rare Reguler
Bulwer’s Petrel – Bulweria bulwerii Rare Reguler
Jouanin’s Petrel – Bulweria fallax Rare Reguler
Wedge-tailed Shearwater – Puffinus pacificus Common Reguler
Flesh-footed Shearwater – Puffinus carneipes Common Reguler
Short-tailed Shearwater – Puffinus tenuirostris Rare  
Persian Shearwater – Puffinus persicus Uncommon Reguler
     
Wilson’s Storm-petrel – Oceanites oceanicus Common Reguler
Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel – Oceanodroma monorhis Rare Reguler
     
White-tailed Tropicbird – Phaethon lepturus Rare Reguler
Red-billed Tropicbird – Phaethon aethereus Common Reguler
     
Masked Booby – Sula dactylatra Uncommon Reguler
Brown Booby – Sula leucogaster Uncommon Reguler
Red-footed Booby – Sula sula Rare  
     
Lesser Frigatebird – Fregata ariel Uncommon Reguler
Great Frigatebird – Fregata minor Uncommon Reguler
Christmas Frigatebird – Fregata andrewsi Rare  
     
Brown Skua – Catharacta antarctica Uncommon Reguler
South Polar Skua – Catharacta maccormicki Rare  
Pomarine Jaeger – Stercorarius pomarinus Uncommon Reguler
Long-tailed Skua – Stercorarius longicaudus Uncommon Reguler