Sri Lanka Bird List

Sri Lankan Bird Species List

The list below follows the bird names and taxonomy in Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (2005) by P.C. Rasmussen & J.C. Anderton.

Note: If the number of ‘chances’ for a species is more than the number of ‘sites’ this indicates that the possibility of finding that species is significantly high and thus it can be expected to be seen on most tours. The species usually seen on most tours are shown with #. An * in the chances column indicates that there is normally only a fairly small chance of the species being seen though it is known to occur at the site.

Copyright © Warakagoda, Hettige & De Silva, June 2006

Species Number of possible sites and chances in each itinerary
Itinerary 1 Itinerary 2 Itinerary 3 Itinerary 4
Sites Chances Sites Chances Sites Chances Sites Chances
Spot-billed Pelican – Pelecanus philippensis # 11 21 10 19 17 33 1 2
 
Little Cormorant – Phalacrocorax niger # 22 30 15 25 15 24 5 8
Indian Shag – Phalacrocorax fuscicollis # 15 25 11 19 13 22 1 2
Oriental Darter – Anhinga melanogaster # 16 18 13 15 14 19 4 5
                 
Eastern Cattle Egret – Bubulcus coromandus # 22 30 15 25 15 24 5 8
Indian Pond-heron – Ardeola grayii # 22 30 15 25 15 24 5 8
 
Malay Bittern – Gorsachius melanolophus 3 * 3 * 3 * 3 *
Yellow Bittern –Ixobrychus sinensis # 11 20 9 16 13 22 1 2
Chestnut Bittern – Ixobrychus cinnamomeus 3 * 3 * 3 * 3 *
Black Bittern – Dupetor flavicollis # 8 10 7 9 8 10 3 4
 
Painted Stork – Mycteria leucocephala # 11 20 9 16 13 22 1 2
Asian Openbill – Anastomus oscitans # 15 25 11 19 13 22 1 2
Woolly-necked Stork – Ciconia episcopus # 11 20 9 16 13 22 1 2
Black-necked Stork  – Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus # 1 1 1 1 1 1 – –
Lesser Adjutant – Leptoptilos javanicus 2 2 2 2 4 6 – –
Black-headed Ibis – Threskiornis melanocephalus # 11 20 9 16 13 22 1 2
 
Greater Flamingo – Phoenicopterus roseus  1 2 1 2 1 2 – –
 
Lesser Whistling-duck  – Dendrocygna javanica # 11 20 9 16 13 22 1 2
Cotton Teal – Nettapus coromandelianus 3 3 2 2 4 4 1 1
Indian Spot-billed Duck – Anas poecilorhyncha 1 1 1 1 2 3 – –
Garganey – Anas querquedula # 5 6 6 7 10 12 1 1
 
Jerdon’s Baza  – Aviceda jerdoni 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Oriental Honey-buzzard – Pernis ptilorhynchus # 5 5 4 4 5 5 1 2
Brahminy Kite – Haliaster Indus # 15 25 10 20 15 25 10 15
White-bellied Sea-eagle – Haliaeetus leucogaster # 5 5 5 5 5 5 2 4
Grey-headed Fishing Eagle – Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus # 5 5 4 4 5 5 1 2
Crested Serpent-eagle – Spilornis cheela # 10 15 8 12 10 15 10 15
Pallid Harrier – Circus macrourus 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Montagu’s Harrier – Circus pygargus 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Crested Goshawk – Accipiter trivirgatus 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Besra Sparrowhawk – Accipiter virgatus 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Himalayan Buzzard – Buteo burmanicus # 4 5 4 5 4 5 3 4
Black Eagle – Ictinaetus malayensis # 6 7 7 8 6 7 5 5
Rufous-bellied Eagle – Hieraaetus kienerii 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Crested Hawk-eagle – Spizaetus cirrhatus # 7 15 7 14 9 20 1 3
Mountain Hawk-eagle – Spizaetus nipalensis 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
 
Shahin Falcon – Falco peregrine  pregrinator 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 1
Species Number of possible sites and chances in each itinerary
Itinerary 1 Itinerary 2 Itinerary 3 Itinerary 4
Sites Chances Sites Chances Sites Chances Sites Chances
Painted Francolin – Francolinus pictus # – – 2 5 – – – –
Grey Francolin – Francolinus pondicerianus         1 1    
Blue-breasted Quail – Coturnix chinensis 1 * 1 * 1 * 1 *
Jungle Bush Quail – Perdicula asiatica #     2 4        
Ceylon Spurfowl – Galloperdix bicalcarata #   E          4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Ceylon Junglefowl – Gallus lafayettii #  E 8 11 8 10 12 17 5 8
Indian Peafowl – Pavo cristatus #  10 15 8 12 10 15 10 15
 
Barred Button-Quail – Turnix suscitator # 6 12 6 15 8 14 2 6
 
Slaty-legged Crake – Rallina eurizonoides # 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3
Slaty-breasted Rail – Rallus striatus  1 * 1 8 1 * – –
White-breasted Waterhen – Amaurornis phoenicurus# 15 22 13 20 10 15 10 15
‘Eastern’ Baillon’s Crake – Porzana pusilla                
Ruddy-breasted Crake – Porzana fusca 1 * 1 * 1 * – –
Watercock – Gallicrex cinerea # 8 10 7 9 8 10 – –
Purple Swamphen – Porphyrio [porphyrio] poliocephalus # 15 18 14 16 18 23 5 7
Pheasant-tailed Jacana – Hydrophasianus chirurgus # 15 17 14 16 18 22 5 7
 
Greater Painted Snipe – Rostratula benghalensis 2 2 2 2 2 2 – –
 
Pacific Golden Plover – Pluvialis fulva # 8 12 7 10 10 15 7 10
Little Ringed Plover – Charadrius dubius # 6 8 6 8 5 7 1 2
Lesser Sand Plover – Charadrius mongolus # 10 14 9 12 12 17 9 12
Caspian Plover – Charadrius asiaticus 1 * 1 * 1 *    
Yellow-wattled Lapwing – Vanellus malabaricus # 8 14 8 14 8 14 2 6
Red-wattled Lapwing – Vanellus indicus # 18 24 18 24 18 24 12 16
 
Pintail Snipe – Gallinago stenura # 8 15 8 15 8 15 3 4
Terek Sandpiper – Xenus cinereus 1 * 1 * 1 * – –
Temminck’s Stint – Calidris temminckii 1 1 1 1 1 1 – –
Long-toed Stint – Calidris subminuta 1 * 1 * 1 * – –
Broad-billed Sandpiper –Limicola falcinellus # 2 2 2 2 2 2 – –
 
Crab Plover – Dromas ardeola         1 *    
 
Indian Stone-curlew – Burhinus indicus # 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 1
Great Thick-knee – Esacus recurvirostris # 8 10 7 9 10 14 1 1
Species Number of possible sites and chances in each itinerary
Itinerary 1 Itinerary 2 Itinerary 3 Itinerary 4
Sites Chances Sites Chances Sites Chances Sites Chances
Indian Stone-curlew – Burhinus indicus # 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 1
Great Thick-knee – Esacus recurvirostris # 8 10 7 9 10 14 1 1
 
Oriental Pratincole – Glareola maldivarum 1 1 1 1 1 1 – –
Small Pratincole – Glareola lacteal # 2 3 2 3 2 3 – –
 
Heuglin’s Gull – Larus heuglini # – – – – 3 † 3 – –
Great Black-headed Gull – Larus ichthyaetus # – – – – 3 † 3 – –
Brown-headed Gull – Larus brunnicephalus # 6 6 6 6 6 6 – –
 
Lesser Crested Tern – Sterna bengalensis # 3 3 3 3 3 3 – –
Great Crested Tern – Thalasseus bergi i # 3 3 3 3 3 3 – –
Saunders’s Tern – Sterna saundersi 1 1 1 1 1 1 – –
 
Ceylon Wood Pigeon – Columba torringtonii #E 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Emerald Dove – Chalocphaps indica # 7 5 7 13 7 10 4 5
Orange-breasted Green Pigeon – Treron bicincta # 5 11 5 13 5 11 1 3
Ceylon Green-pigeon – Treron pompadora #  E 7 15 7 18 7 15 5 6
Yellow-legged Green Pigeon – Treron phoenicoptera # – – 1 2 – – – –
Green Imperial Pigeon – Ducula aenea # 7 15 7 18 7 15 5 6
 
Ceylon Hanging Parrot – Loriculus beryllinus #   E 5 12 7 16 5 12 5 12
Alexandrine Parakeet – Psittacula eupatria # 6 7 6 9 6 7 5 6
Plum-headed Parakeet – Psittacula cyanocephala # 4 5 5 7 4 5 2 4
Layard’s Parakeet – Psittacula calthropae #E 3 5 5 7 3 5 3 5
Species Number of possible sites and chances in each itinerary
Itinerary 1 Itinerary 2 Itinerary 3 Itinerary 4
Sites Chances Sites Chances Sites Chances Sites Chances
Ceylon Frogmouth – Batrachostomus moniliger # 3 5 2 4 3 5 3 5
 
Indian Jungle Nightjar – Caprimulgus indicus     1 1 2 3 1 1 – –
Jerdon’s Nightjar – Caprimulgus atripennis # 4 4 4 4 4 4 – –
Indian Little Nightjar- Caprimulgus asiaticus # 3 5 3 5 3 5 – –
 
Indian Swiftlet –   Aerodramus  unicolor # 12 25 12 25 12 25 8 15
Brown-throated Needletail – Hirundapus giganteus # 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4
Asian Palm Swift – Cypsiurus balasiensis # 12 25 12 25 12 25 8 15
 
Crested Treeswift – Hemiprocne coronata # 10 16 11 17 10 16 2 5
 
Malabar Trogon –   Harpactes fasciatus # 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4
 
Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher – Ceyx erithaca  4 5 3 4 4 5 3 4
Stork-billed Kingfisher – Pelargopsis capensis # 8 12 8 12 8 12 3 4
Black-capped Kingfisher – Halcyon pileata 1 1 1 1 1 1 – –
 
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater – Merops leschenaulti # 10 15 10 15 10 15 4 7
 
Dollarbird – Eurystomus orientalis 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
 
Ceylon Grey Hornbill  – Ocyceros gingalensis # E 7 10 8 11 7 10 5 7
Malabar Pied Hornbill – Anthracoceros coronatus # 4 7 3 6 4 7 1 3
 
Brown-headed Barbet – Megalaima zeylanica # 20 30 22 32 20 30 12 18
Yellow-fronted Barbet – Megalaima flavifrons #E 6 19 6 19 6 19 6 19
Ceylon Small Barbet – Megalaima rubricapilla #  E 6 8 7 10 6 8 6 8
Coppersmith Barbet – Megalaima haenacephala # 8 15 10 18 9 17 2 6
Species Number of possible sites and chances in each itinerary
Itinerary 1 Itinerary 2 Itinerary 3 Itinerary 4
Sites Chances Sites Chances Sites Chances Sites Chances
Asian Paradise Flycatcher-Terpsiphone paradisi # 12 14 12 13 12 14 4 5
Black napped Blue Monarch- Hypothymis azurea  # 6 10 6 10 6 10 5 8
 
Black-capped Bulbul – Pycnonotus melanicterus # E  6 10 6 10 6 10 5 8
Red-vented Bulbul- Pycnonotus cafer # 52 60 52 62 50 60 42 48
Yellow-eared Bulbul- Pycnonotus penicillatus # E 3 10 3 10 3 10 3 10
White-browed Bulbul- Pycnonotus luteoius # 14 25 13 22 14 25 8 15
Yellow-browed Bulbul – Iole indica # 4 8 4 8 4 8 4 8
Square-tailed Black Bulbul- Hypsipetes ganeesa # 4 6 5 8 4 6 4 6
 
Common Iora – Aegithina tiphia # 20 30 22 32 20 30 12 18
Marshall’s Iora – Aegithina nigrolutea 4 6 6 8 4 6 2 4
                 
Gold-fronted Leafbird – Chloropsis aurifrons # 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 8
Jerdon’s Leafbird – Chloropsis jerdoni # 12 12 12 12 12 12 4 4
 
Pied Ground Thrush – Zoothera wardii # 2 4 2 4 2 4 2 4
Orange-headed Thrush – Zoothera citrina 1 1 – – 1 1 – –
Spotted-winged Ground Thrush –  Zoothera spiloptera # E 4 12 4 12 4 12 4 12
Ceylon Scaly Thrush – Zoothera imbricate # E  2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3
Indian Blackbird – Turdus simillimus # 3 5 3 5 3 5 3 5
Ceylon Whistling Thrush – Myophonus blighi # E 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
  Number of possible sites and chances in each itinerary
Itinerary 1 Itinerary 2 Itinerary 3 Itinerary 4
Sites Chances Sites Chances Sites Chances Sites Chances
Asian Brown Flycatcher – Muscicapa dauurica # 8 10 8 10 8 10 8 10
Brown-breasted Flycatcher – Muscicapa mutttui # 6 8 6 8 6 8 6 8
Kashmir Flycatcher – Ficedula subrubra # 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6
Dusky-blue Flycatcher – Eumiyas sordida #  E 4 9 4 9 4 9 4 9
Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher- Cyornis tickelliae # 12 14 12 14 12 14 8 10
Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher- Culicicapa ceylonensis #  4 9 4 9 4 9 4 9
Indian Blue Robin- Luscinia brunnea # 11 13 10 10 11 13 7 9
Oriental Magpie-robin – Copsychus saularis # 52 60 52 62 50 60 42 48
White-rumped Shama – Copsychus mlabaricus # 5 8 6 10 4 6 2 4
Pied Bushchat – Saxicola caprata # 4 9 4 9 4 9 4 9
                 
Ashy-headed Laughingthrush – Garrulax cinereifrons#  E 1 6 1 6 1 6 1 6
Brown-capped Babbler – Pellorneum fuscocapillum #  E 7 10 7 10 7 10 6 9
Ceylon Scimitar-babbler – Pomatorhinus melanurus # E  6 9 6 9 6 9 6 9
Tawny-bellied Babbler Dumetia hyperythra # 10 14 10 13 10 14 8 8
Dark-fronted Babbler Rhopocichla atriceps # 14 18 13 15 16 18 8 9
Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinemse # 8 15 10 18 9 17 2 6
Ceylon Rufous Babbler  Turdoides rufescens #  E 3 15 3 15 3 15 3 15
Yellow-billed Babbler – Turdoides affinis # 20 30 22 32 20 30 12 18
  Number of possible sites and chances in each itinerary
Itinerary 1 Itinerary 2 Itinerary 3 Itinerary 4
Sites Chances Sites Chances Sites Chances Sites Chances
Grey-breasted Prinia- Prinia hodgsonii # 6 8 6 8 7 9 3 4
Ashy Prinia- Prinia socialis # 10 14 10 12 12 13 7 8
Jungle Prinia – Prinia sylvatica # 5 9 5 9 5 9 2 4
Plain Prinia – Prinia inonarnata # 10 16 10 15 10 16 8 10
Common Tailorbird – Orthotomus sutorius # 23 30 24 32 26 36 12 18
                 
Ceylon Warbler – Bradypterus palliseri #  E 3 7 3 7 3 7 3 7
Rusty-rumped Warbler- Locustella certhiola  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Indian Reed-warbler – Acrocephalus brunnescens # 3 5 3 5 3 5 – –
Bright green Warbler – Phylloscopus nitidus #                
Large-billed Leaf Warbler – Phylloscopus magnirostris # 9 12 10 13 9 12 6 8
                 
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch – Sitta frontalis # 5 9 5 11 5 9 4 8
                 
Thick-billed Flowerpecker – Dicaeum agile # 4 5 4 7 4 5 3 4
Legge’s Flowerpecker – Dicaeum vincens #  E 3 8 3 8 3 8 3 8
Pale-billed Flowerpecker- Dicaeum erythrorhynchos# 18 24 16 20 19 26 10 15
                 
Purple-rumped Sunbird – Leptocoma zeylonica # 18 24 16 20 19 26 10 15
Purple Sunbird – Cynnyris asiaticus # 9 13 14 16 11 18 3 8
Loten’s Sunbird – Cynnyris  lotenia # 10 14 10 15 10 14 7 10
Species Number of possible sites and chances in each itinerary
Itinerary 1 Itinerary 2 Itinerary 3 Itinerary 4
Sites Chances Sites Chances Sites Chances Sites Chances
Indian Silverbill –Euodice malabarica # 6 7 6 7 6 7 1 1
White-rumped Munia – Lonchura striata # 11 14 10 15 10 14 7 10
Black-throated Munia – Lonchura kelaarti # 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Scaly-breasted Munia – Lonchura punctulata 18 24 16 20 19 26 10 15
Tricoloured Munia – Lonchura Malacca # 2 10 2 10 2 10 1 8
                 
Striated Weaver – Ploceus manyar # 3 3 3 7 3 3    
Baya Weaver – Ploceus philippinus # 6 7 6 7 6 7 1 1
                 
Ceylon White-headed Starling – Sturnia albofrontata#E 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3
Brahminy Starling – Temenuchus pagodarum # 2 5 2 5 2 5    
Rosy Starling – Sturnus roseus # 4 7 4 7 4 7 1 2
Ceylon Hill-Mynah – Gracula ptilogenys #  E 3 5 3 5 3 5 3 5
Lesser Hill-myna – Gracula indica # 4 8 4 8 4 8 4 8
                 
Black-hooded Oriole – Oriolus xanthornus # 18 20 16 17 19 25 10 12
                 
Ashy Drongo – Dicrurus leucophaeus # 2 2 2 2 3 3 1 1
White-bellied Drongo – Dicrurus caerulescens # 18 24 16 20 19 26 10 15
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo – Dicrurus paradiseus 4 4 4 4 5 5 1 1
Ceylon Crested Drongo – Dicrurus lophorinus #  E  3 13 3 13 3 13 3 13
                 
Ashy Woodswallow – Artamus fuscus # 11 14 10 15 10 14 7 10
                 
Ceylon Blue Magpie – Cissa ornate # E 2 5 2 5 2 5 2 5
Indian Jungle Crow – Corvus culminates # 52 60 52 62 50 60 42 48

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  
     
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