Sri Lanka offers a remarkable array of endemic species found nowhere else on the planet. With its lush forests, diverse landscapes, and unique ecosystems, this lovely island is a haven for avian life. Being home to an impressive number of 34 endemic bird species, Sri Lanka considers a perfect place for bird watching. Certainly, the dedicated bird sanctuaries in the country offer a memorable experience for worldwide nature lovers.
Endemic birds have evolved distinct adaptations that enable them to thrive in their specific habitats. Some of these unique characteristics include vibrant plumage, specialized beaks, and mixed flock feeding habits. Thus, these remarkable birds have adapted well to the island’s varied habitats, from the misty peaks of the central highlands to the coastal wetlands and tropical rainforests.
In this blog post, we bring you the complete list of endemic birds in Sri Lanka. Let’s embark on a captivating journey to discover all 34 endemics of the country, exploring their fascinating characteristics, unique habitats, and conservation status.
1. Sri Lanka Blue Magpie (කැහිබෙල්ලා)
Sri Lanka Blue Magpie (Urocissa ornata) is among the most beautiful endemics on the island. They have glossy blue plumage, and a reddish-brown head, neck, bill, and wings. There is a conspicuous vibrant red color ring around the eyes. The long blue tail ends with a white tip. Both males and females share the same features. Mainly, they live in the wet zone of southern Sri Lanka including the Sinharaja Rainforest. Due to the habitat loss, they are listed as vulnerable on the list of endemic birds in Sri Lanka.
2. Sri Lanka Junglefowl (වලි කුකුළා)
Sri Lanka Junglefowl (Gallus lafayetii) is the national bird of the country. They are strongly sexually dimorphic. The male is much larger than the female, with more vivid plumage and a highly exaggerated wattle and comb. They have an orange-red body, dark purple to black wings, and a tail. The feathers of the mane descending from head to base of the spine are golden. The comb is red with a prominent yellow centre. Junglefowl is available throughout Sri Lanka, from sea level up to 2.000 m of elevation.
3. Sri Lanka White Eye (ශ්රී ලංකා සිතැසියා)
Sri Lanka White-eye (Zosterops ceylonensis) is a small endemic bird with a noticeable ring of tiny white feathers around the eyes. They can be identified by their dark olive-green body and white eye ring. It is a common bird in the hills and mountains at higher altitudes. Nicknamed as “Flower Birds”, they like to feed on nectar. They are social birds, forming large flocks in the forests and woodlands in the highlands.
4. Red-faced Malkoha (වත රතු මල්කොහා)
Red-faced Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus) is an endemic member of the cuckoo family. This is an extremely rare species, consider as vulnerable on the list of endemic birds in Sri Lanka. This large species is 46 cm long with a graduated tail edged with white. It can identify by the large red patch around the eye. The presence of red-faced malkoha in Sri Lanka is largely confined to the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and the surrounding vegetation. Moreover, they live in dry zone forests including Yala and Udawalawe.
5. Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill (අළු කෑදැත්තා)
Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros gingalensis) is a widespread, common endemic bird in the country. They are large birds at 45 cm in length. It has grey wings with black primary flight feathers and a grey back. Its long tail is black with white sides. The long, curved bill has no casque. They occur throughout the wet-zone lowlands and hills up to altitudes of 1,200 m.
6. Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot (ගිරා මලිත්තා)
Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot (Loriculus beryllinus) is a small, resident endemic breeder, only 13 cm long with a short tail. The adult has a red crown and rump. The nape and back have an orange tint. The chin and throat are pale blue. The beak is red and the irises are white. When feeding, they can hang upside down to reach the fruits. It inhabits the forests of low-country wet zone and hills up to 1,200 m.
7. Layard’s Parakeet (අළු ගිරවා)
Layard’s Parakeet (Psittacula calthrapae) is a green-colored parrot, around 29 cm long including a tail up to 13 cm. Particularly, adult male parrots have a grey head and a two-toned beak. The upper mandible of the male’s bill is red and the lower mandible is brown. The female has a similar appearance but has a black beak. They are widely distributed throughout the forests and wooded areas in both wet and dry zones.
8. Red-backed Flameback (රතු කෑරලා)
Red-backed Flameback (Dinopium psarodes) is a widespread, medium-sized woodpecker with a bright red back. This endemic bird has a prominent red crest and a white eyebrow. It has a fairly sized grey bill, which forms a blunt point. Their black eye stripe stretches to the back of the neck and diffuses into the nape and upper back with white streaks between the eye and neck. Its natural habitats are dry zone forests, wet lowland forests, and mangrove forests, including manmade environments like home gardens.
9. Crimson-backed Flameback (රත් පිට මහ කෑරලා)
Crimson-backed Flameback (Chrysocolaptes stricklandi) is a large woodpecker endemic to Sri Lanka. They have a crimson upper part, black-scaled pale underparts, and a crested head. This woodpecker has an ivory-colored beak and distinctive elliptical marking on the face below the eye. They are almost similar to the red-backed flamebacks but lack the prominent white eyebrow. Although they prefer forests and woodlands, occasionally found in disturbed areas or home gardens.
10. Dull-blue Flycatcher (අඳුරු නිල් මැසිමාරා)
Dull-blue Flycatcher (Eumyias sordida) is a small endemic bird that lives in the hills of the central highlands of Sri Lanka. They are listed as near-threatened species on the IUCN Red List. This small species is only 15 cm long. They have ashy blue coloration with a bluish body, grayish belly, and a prominent bright blue forehead. They prefer the deciduous mountain forests, always above 600 m altitude.
11. Legge’s Flowerpecker (ලංකා පිළච්චා)
Legge’s Flowerpecker (Dicaeum vincens) or the white-throated flowerpecker is a small endemic bird in Sri Lanka. These birds are listed as near-threatened species on the IUCN Red List. They are quite small birds, 10 cm in total length and weighing only 9 g. The male Legge’s flowerpecker has blue-black upper parts, a white throat, and a yellow breast and belly. Kitulgala and Sinharaja rainforests are the best places to see them.
12. Serendib Scops Owl (පඩුවන් බස්සා)
Serendib Scops Owl (Otus thilohoffmanni) is an endangered species on the IUCN Red List. Found in 2001, it is the most recently discovered endemic bird in the country. This small owl is only 16.5 cm long. They are reddish-brown with paler underparts, spotted all over with fine black markings. This short-tailed owl has yellow eyes. Their claws and bill are pale ivory in color. They live in wet zone rainforests including Sinharaja, Kitulgala, and Kanneliya.
13. Chestnut–backed Owlet (පිට තඹල වන බස්සා)
Chestnut-backed Owlet (Glaucidium castanotum) is a small owl endemic to Sri Lanka. They are listed as near-threatened species on the IUCN Red List. This small bird measures only 19 cm in length. Their plumage is mainly chestnut brown, with darker barring. The underparts are white with black streaks. The face is brown and the eyes are yellow. They are common resident birds in the wet zone forests of Sri Lanka, such as Kitulgala and Sinharaja.
14. Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon (මයිලගොයා)
The Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon (Columba torringtoni) is an endemic pigeon species in the mountains of the country. It is one of the most vulnerable bird species on the list of endemic birds in Sri Lanka. They are quite shy birds and rarely come out from the canopy. These large birds are around 36 cm in length. Their plumage is plain gray while they have conspicuous black-and-white stripes on the nape. This species prefers damp evergreen woodlands in the central highlands. Mostly, they live in the woods of Horton Plains National Park.
15. Sri Lanka Green Pigeon (බටගොයා)
Out of the 9 doves & pigeon species living in Sri Lanka, the Green Pigeon (Treron pompadora) is endemic to the country. This pigeon has quite beautiful plumage. This medium-sized green pigeon has a yellow face and yellow lines on the wings. The male has a maroon back while the female has a green back. The legs and feet of Sri Lanka green pigeons are reddish. They have bright blue eyes and a short tail. They prefer dry lowland forests, including Yala, Wilpattu, and Kaudulla.
16. Green–billed Coucal (බට ඇටිකුකුළා)
Green-billed Coucal (Centropus chlororhynchos) is an endemic species listed as vulnerable on the list of endemic birds in Sri Lanka. It is a medium-sized bird with purple-black plumage on the head and body. Their wings are dark brown and their long tail is dark green. They can identify from widespread greater coucal by their distinctive greenish bill. It inhabits only in the wet zone jungles including Sinharaja Rainforest. Their population is gradually declining due to habitat loss by forest destruction and fragmentation.
17. Crimson-fronted Barbet (හීන් කොට්ටෝරුවා)
Crimson-fronted Barbet (Megalaima rubricapillus) is an endemic bird in Sri Lanka with a striking coloration. This is a small barbet only 15 cm long with a short neck, large head, and short tail. Their head has a bright color combination with red. orange, yellow, blue, black, and green. Their body is mainly green with light greenish plumage and wings, a blue band down the side of the head and neck, and a black crescent behind the eye. It inhabits tropical lowland forests up to 1,300 m in elevation.
18. Yellow-fronted Barbet (රන් මූණත් කොට්ටෝරුවා)
Yellow-fronted Barbet (Megalaima flavifrons) is an endemic resident breeder in Sri Lanka. They can distinguish by their yellow forehead and blue face. It reaches around 20 cm in length. Particularly, it differs from other members of the family by having fewer bristles at the corner of the mouth. This is the commonest barbet of the hill country at altitudes between 1,000 and 2,000 m.
19. Sri Lanka Spurfowl (හබන් කුකුළා)
Sri Lanka Spurfowl (Galloperdix bicalcarata) is an endemic bird that prefers dense rainforests. It is a very secretive bird and easily slips through the undergrowth. They are around 37 cm long and have brown upperparts, wings, and a tail. There are conspicuous white spots and streaks covering the body. Also, they have a bright red bill and legs. The female is plain reddish-brown, lacking the white markings of the male. They live in the grounds of deep jungles of the wet zone but are also found in hill forests.
20. Black-capped Bulbul (හිස කලු කොණ්ඩයා)
Black-capped Bulbul (Pycnonotus melanicterus) is endemic to Sri Lanka. Most prominently, they have a crestless black head and a bright yellow underside. They have a yellow throat and brownish eyes. It is visible yellowish green above and yellow below. The tail is brownish and ends with a white tip. Yellow throat and lack of black in the wing separate this species from Black-hooded Oriole. They occur in a variety of habitats, including forests, open woodlands, and gardens.
21. Yellow-eared Bulbul (කහ කන් කොණ්ඩයා)
Yellow-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus penicillatus) is a small endemic resident breeder in the Hill Country of Sri Lanka. These birds are listed as near-threatened species on the IUCN Red List. They reach only 20 cm in length. It has olive upperparts and yellow underparts. The crown of the head is grey. Especially, there is a tuft of yellow feathers over the ear that give this specific name. They have a white streak in front of the eye which helps to easily distinguish this from all the other bulbuls. These birds are frequently sighted in rocky hills in central highlands.
22. Sri Lanka Hill Myna (ශ්රී ලංකා මයිනා)
Sri Lanka Hill Myna (Gracula ptilogenys) is an endemic bird that lives in the hill country. These birds are listed as near-threatened species on the IUCN Red List. These 25 cm long birds have green-glossed black plumage, purple-tinged on the head and neck. Their strong legs are bright yellow and have two yellow wattles on the nape. These yellow wattles on the nape, the orange-red bicolored bill, and white flashes in the wing distinguish this species from common Southern hill myna. They live in the canopy of hill forests, and nearby gardens and woods.
23. Ashy-headed Laughing Thrush (අළු දෙමලිච්චා)
Ashy-headed Laughing Thrush (Garrulax cinereifrons) is a small bird, 23 cm in length with a long floppy tail. These birds are listed as vulnerable species on the list of endemic birds in Sri Lanka. They are characterized by soft fluffy plumage. They have a reddish-brown body with a grey head and white throat. This mixture of the gray head, black bill and legs, and paler underside identify it from all other babblers in Sri Lanka. Its habitat is rainforest, and it is always seen in deep jungles or dense thickets in the wet zone.
24. Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush (පෙති ගෝමර වල් අවීචියා)
Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush (Zoothera imbricata) is a very secretive bird, preferring dense cover. These birds are listed as near-threatened species on the IUCN Red List. They are 30 cm long, with black scaling on a paler white or yellowish background. The most striking identification feature is the extensive black scales all over their body. They live in wet forests of the lowlands and mountains of Sri Lanka.
25. Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush (අරංගයා)
Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush (Myophonus blighi) is a rarely-seen shy bird, listed as endangered species on the IUCN Red List. It occurs only in natural, undisturbed forests. This small whistling thrush is only 20 cm in length. They are dark blue with a darker head and back. The female is brown above and chestnut below, but has a bright blue shoulder patch like the male. They live in dense mountain forests above 1,200 m, usually close to streams and ravines.
26. Spot-winged Thrush (පුල්ලි වල් අවීචියා)
Spot-winged Thrush (Zoothera spiloptera) is listed as near-threatened species on the IUCN Red List. This medium-sized thrush measures 21 to 27 cm in total length and weighs 70 g. They are light brown above with a double wing bar of white spots. The pale face has two dark bars. The underparts are white with heavy spotting. The bill is black and the legs are yellow. Can be identified with bold dark spots on the underparts and wings, They occur near the ground in forests and gardens, mostly in the wet zone, but also find in the dry zone.
27. Sri Lanka Bush Warbler (වනරැවියා)
The Sri Lanka Bush Warbler (Bradypterus palliseri) is an endemic resident breeder listed as near-threatened species on the IUCN Red List. They live as secretive birds and are rarely seen in the jungles. These small, earthy-brown colored birds have pale grey underparts and a broad, graduated tail. The uniform appearance and inconspicuous gray eyebrow separate this species from other warblers. It can be found in dense forest undergrowth, often close to the water in the highlands of central Sri Lanka, above 1,200 m.
28. Brown-capped Babbler (බොර දෙමලිච්චා)
Brown-capped Babbler (Pellorneum fuscocapillus) is a small endemic bird, that reaches only 16 cm including its long tail. This elusive mountain bird is confined to dense undergrowth in forested areas. Their prominent features are the intense cinnamon underparts, a brown cap, and short dark bills. They can easily be separated from the other species by their bold cap and underpart coloration. They prefer dense thickets in evergreen broadleaf forests. This species is terrestrial and occurs on or near the ground in forests.
29. Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler (දෑකැති දෙමලිච්චා)
Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler (Pomatorhinus melanurus) is a striking babbler, with a long, bright yellow-orange downcurved bill, bold white eyebrow, deep chestnut upperparts, and clean white underparts. The males and females look alike and measure around 22 cm. Their long sickle-shaped yellow bill enables the birds to be identified easily. They have a wide distribution throughout the island in shady forests and woods, particularly near streams from sea level to 2,100 m elevation.
30. White-faced Starling (වත සුදු ශාරිකාවා)
White-faced Starling (Sturnus albofrontatus) reaches a length of about 22 cm. These birds are listed as vulnerable species on the list of endemic birds in Sri Lanka. They have dark grey upperparts and whitish underparts. The head is paler than the belly. Their noticeable white face helps to identify them easily. This is the only starling in Sri Lanka with uniformly dark upper parts and a white face. They prefer undisturbed rainforests but also visit fruiting trees in adjacent areas.
31. Orange-billed Babbler (රතු දෙමලිචිචා)
Orange-billed Babbler (Turdoides rufescens) is a resident endemic bird in Sri Lanka. These birds are listed as near-threatened species on the IUCN Red List. These birds are plain orange-brown below and have a slightly darker shade above. The crown and nape are grey, and the bill and feet are orange. Their conspicuous orange-colored bill gave this specific name. They differ from the similar Yellow-billed Babbler in having a reddish-brown body and orange legs and bill. It occurs in all the forests of the wet zone and is quite common at Kitulgala and Sinharaja.
32. Sri Lanka Swallow (ලංකා රතු වැහිළිහිණියා)
Sri Lanka Swallow (Cecropis hyperythra) is a resident breeder endemic to the country. This large swallow has a deeply forked tail, and chestnut underparts, and a navy blue rump. A combination of unmarked, deep reddish-brown underside and blue rump without any marks separate this species from all other swallows on the island. They have a wide distribution throughout the island and are observed in open paddy fields and hillsides, as well as lightly wooded areas.
33. Sri Lanka Woodshrike (වන කොවුල් ඇස් පටියා)
Sri Lanka Woodshrike (Tephrodornis affinis) is a small grey-brown bird, about 14 cm in size. It has a heavy bill and white eyebrows. Underparts pale whitish. Pale eyebrow and plain underparts aid identification from similarly heavy-billed, but larger species of Large Woodshrike. It inhabits a range of open wooded areas in lowlands but ascends to mid-elevations in hills.
34. Sri Lanka Crested Drongo (කොණ්ඩ කවුඩා)
Sri Lanka Crested Drongo (Dicrurus lophorinus) is a 30 cm long glossy black bird common in the low country wet zone forests. They have a large, upright body and a long, deeply-forked tail and tuft of feathers above the bill. This prominent crest and deeply forked, long tail feathers separate them from all the other drongos. They a versatile birds found in a wide range of habitats including forests, urban areas, and foothills of Sri Lanka’s wet zone.
To sum up, this is the complete list of endemic birds in Sri Lanka showing all the 34 species you’ll find in the country. These beautiful birds are a natural heritage and preserving these avian treasures is essential. Let’s nurture a harmonious relationship and protect them for generations to come.!
Text by Magnificent Sri Lanka. Images from Wikimedia Commons, Facebook and Twitter. All the copyrights are reserved by the original authors.
