Endemic Birds of Sri Lanka
By Nilantha Vishvanath
Young Biolgists' Association

Bird Life
Sri Lanka is one of bio diversity hot spots in the world, because of it's rich ecological habitats. From south western rainforests to dry deciduous forests, grass lands, upper montane rain forests and widely distributed costal wetlands attract birds through out the year.   

   4xx species of avifauna were recorded in this small island and it is nearly 1/3 of total birds found from Indian subcontinent. High percentage of endemic birds (24species) and rare species can be seen in south western region of the country and it is identified as one of the eight centers of endemism (conservation hotspots) by Bird Life International 1998.

   Many birds migrate through Pakistan and India from October to March and it is the best season for bird watchers. It is possible to see  more than hundred species within five to six days.

   The southwestern rain forests like Sinharaja World Heritage  are the major habitat for all most all the endemic species (except Sri Lanka whistling thrush Myophonus blighi) . But the other part of the island is covered by dry mixed evergreen forests and grass lands, provides easy bird sightings.

List of Endemic Birds
1. Sri Lanka Junglefowl
2.Sri Lanka Spurfowl
3.Sri Lanka yellow fronted Barbet
4. Sri Lanka grey hornbill
5. Sri Lanka red faced malkoha
6.Sri Lanka green billed coucal
7. Sri Lanka hanging parrot
8. Sri Lanka grey headed parakeet
9. Sri Lanka chestnut backed owlet
10. Sri Lanka wood pigeon
11. Sri Lanka blue magpie
12. Sri Lanka spot winged thrush
13. Sri Lanka white faced starling
14. Sri Lanka myna
15. Sri Lanka yellow eared bul bul
16. Sri Lanka ashy headed laughingthrush
17. Sri Lanka legges flowerpecker
18. Sri Lanka bush warbler
19. Sri Lanka orange billed babbler
20. Sri Lanka brown capped babbler
21. Sri Lanka white eye
22. Sri Lanka dull dlue flycatcher
23. Sri Lanka whistling thrush

Web site Maintained by
Forestry and Environmental Science Society of Univesity of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka and
Young Biolgists' Association, National Meuseum of the Naural History, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka.
email: [email protected]
© Forestry and Environment Society 1998-2004