15. Paduvan Bassa

 

Common Name:   Serendib scops owl

Scientific Name:   Otus thilohoffmanni

Animal Family:   Strigidae

Description:   16.5 cm. A small, short-tailed scops-owl, lacking true ear-tufts. The irides are orange- yellow in the male and yellow in the female and juvenile. the beak, legs and claws are whitish. The legs are feathered  on the tibia and upper tarsi. Female scops owls are usually larger than males. 

Population:   Extensive surveys have located 100 individuals and led to a  population estimate of 200-250 individuals.

Found where:   Found in rainforests in some wet zones of Sri Lanka including Sinharaja Forest Reserve, where it was first discovered for science.

Habitat:   Semi-open, arid landscapes

Foods:   It likely feeds on relatively small prey such as small lizard, frogs, and other vertebrates, and large insects.

14. Hisa Sudu Sharikava

 

Common Name:  White-faced Starling

Scientific Name:   Sturnornis albofrontatus

Animal Family:   Sturnidae

Description:   The adults of these 22cm-long birds have green glossed dark grey upperparts and whitish underparts. The head is paler than the underparts. The sexes are similar, but juveniles are buller, with brown upperparts and greyer underparts. Smallish starling with pied plumage, feathers of crown, nape and upper mantle elongate and hackled. The normal cluth is two eggs.  

Population:   The population is estimated to number 2500-9999 mature individuals based on an assessment of recent records and surveys by BirdLife International.

Found where:   This bird can be observed in the Sinharaja Rain Forest.

Habitat:   This passerine is typically found in tall forest, usually high in the canopy. The white-faced starling builds its nest in the hole.

Foods:   Its food consists largely of wild fruits, such as cinnamon berries and the figs of several species of Ficus, but it doubtless eats insects; and like many other birds, it is very found of the nectar of the red cotton tree.

13. Manila Goya

 

Common Name:   Sri Lanka Wood pigeon 

Scientific Name:   Columba torringtoniae

Animal  Family:   Columbidae

Description:   The Sri Lanka Wood pigeon is 36 cm in length. Its upperparts and tail are dark grey, and the head and underparts are lilac, becoming paler on the belly. Building a nest in tree and laying a single white egg. its flight is quick, with the regular beats and an occasional sharp flick of the wings which are characteristic of pigeons in general. 

Population:   The breeding population is thought to be around five million pairs, and this species that can nest at any time of the year, although its peak breeding season is though the summer months.

Found where:   The bird can be observed in the Hakgala Botnical Gardens and the Riverston Area.

Habitat:   Inhabits upper levels of forests and densely wooded areas in the hills and mountains, where occurs in pairs or small flock.

Foods:   It is strictly arboreal, feeding on a variety of small jungle fruits and berries. 

12. Wana-Kowul As-Patiya

 

Common Name:   Sri Lanka Common woodshrike

Scientific Name:   Tephrodornis affinis

Animal Family:   Vangidae

Description:   The ceylon Woodshrike is a nondescript, sparrow sized bird of mostly grey plumage. The male has dark mask across the eye. A prominent feature which stands out in this drab plumage is a white rump bordered below with black upper tail coverts. The female is browner with a less prominent mask. The ceylon Wood Shrike breeds during the early part of the year building well camouflaged small cup like nest stuck to the top of a horizontal branch in a fork between two smaller branches.   

Population:   The population size has not been quantified.

Found where:   Mostly in the Dry Zone in Sri Lanka;  avoids dense, wet forests. Arboreal species usually encountered in pairs of small groups.

Habitat:   Mainly in thin forest and scrub habitat.

Foods:   They hunt insects, often joining other insectivorous birds.

11. Galu-guduwa or Kaha kondaya

 

Common Name:   Yellow Eared Bulbul

Scientific Name:   Pycnonotus penicillatus

Animal  Family:   Pycnonotidae

Description:   The yellow-eared bulbul is about 20 cm (7.9 in) in length, with a short tail. Yellow- eared bulbul build their nest in a bush with to eggs in a typical clutch. Nests are open and cup shaped. Material such as roots, and lichen are used in building the nests. Breeding season usually occurs around February-May and again August-October

Population:   The population size is unknown, and hence cannot be assessed under the population size criterion.

Found where:   It is found in Jungle and wooded areas and home gardens. The bird can be observed in the Hoton Plains National Park and Victoria Park in Nuwara Eliya.

Habitat:   This species is abundant in mature, degraded forests and eucalyptus plantation in montane regions of Sri Lanka, generally at 850-2200 m. Yellow eared bulbul build their nest in a bush.

Foods:   They feed on fruit and insects.

10. Hill Myna

 

Common Name:   Sri Lanka hill myna

Scientific Name:   Gracula ptilogenys

Animal Family:   Sturnidae

Description:   These 25 cm long birds have green -glossed black plumage, purple-tinged on the head and neck. There are large white wings patches, which are obvious in flight. The strong legs are bright yellow, and there are yellow wattles on the nape. The sexes are similar in plumage, but can be distinguished by iris color, which is pale in females and dark in males. Juveniles have a duller bill and smaller wattles, and are the less glossy overall.

Population:   It is currently consider Near Threatened. Extent of occurrence 18700 km2

Found where:   This passerine is typically found in forest and cultivation.

Habitat:   The Sri Lankan hill myna builds a nest in the hole.

Foods:   The Sri Lanka hill myna is fairly omnivorous, eating fruit, nectar and insects.

9. Kawuda

 

Common Name:   Sri Lanka Drango

Scientific Name:   Dicrurus lophorinus

Animal  Family:   Dicruridae

Description:   31-34 cm, excluding tail; two adults 70 g. On the head, forehead and trontal tuft are deep velvety black. The frontal tuft resemble a short, bushy, stiff crest. The longest feathers curve over the forehead. The Black bi9ll is hooked. We can see fairly long rictal bristles on each sides of the bill base. The eyes are brown to reddish-brown. Legs and feet are black. Male and female are similar The juvenile has a duller plumage overall. The belly is greyer and shows whitish scaling. Axillaries and underwing-coverts show large white tips. the crest is small. 

Population:   The population size of this species has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population size criterion.

Found where:   Distribution. The species can be found throughout Wet zone of South Western parts of Sri Lanka, from Deduru Oya to Walawe.

Habitat:   It's natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland and montane forests.

Foods:   They feed mainly on insects such as grasshoppers, moths, beetles, and dragonflies. 

8. Bata Goya

Common Name:      Sri Lanka Green pigeon

Scientific Name:      Treron pompadora

Animal Family:      Columbidae

Description:     Sri Lankan Green pigeon is approximately 26-30 cm in length . Sri Lanaka green pigeon usually occurs singly or in the small groups. Its flight is fast and direct, with the regular brats and an occasional sharp flick of the wings that are characteristic of pigeons in general. It builds a stick nests in a tree and lays two white eggs.  

Population:     The population size has not been quantified.

Found where:     This bird can be observed in the peak wilderness Sanctuary, Morapitiya Forest Reserve, Mitirigala Forest Reserve, Sinharaja  Forest Reserve, Kanneliya  Forest Reserve, Hiyare Forest Reserve ,Udawattakele Forest Reserve, Minneriya National Park, Sigiriya Sanctuary and the Wilpattu National park.

Habitat:     Found singly or in small groups at upper levels of forests in lowlands and hills 

Foods:     It eats the seeds and fruits of a wide variety of plants.

  

7. Alu Kadatta

 

Common Name:   Sri Lanka grey hornbill

Scientific Name:   Ocyceros gingalensis

Animal Family:   Bucerotidae

Description:   The Sri Lanka grey hornbill is a large bird at 45 cm (18 in ) in length. Sexes are similar, although the male has a cream-colored bill, whereas the female's is black with a cream stripe.  Immature birds have dark grey upperparts, a cream bill, and a tail with a white tip. Its fight is slow and powerful. The female lays up to four white eggs in a tree hole blocked off during incubation with a cement made of mud, droppings and fruit pulp.

Population:   The Sri Lankan grey hornbill populations are believed to be stable across Sri Lanka. No Conservation action has been taken by the country thus far.

Found where:   The Grey Hornbill is a bird of forest and well wooded areas. It is Found both in the wet and dry zones and ascends the hills up to about 1300 m.  In the Dry zone if favours riverine forests though in the Wilpattu National Park it inhabits forests close to the villus as well.

Habitat:   Found in pairs and groups in forest and woodland, preferring drier areas. 

Foods:   Mainly fruit, especially small figs, but also variety of wild and cultivated species; also insects, frogs, lizard, scorpions.

6. Lanka Pilalichcha

 

Common Name:   Sri Lanka Flowerpecker

Scientific Name:   Dicaeum vincens

Animal Family:   Dicaeidae

Description:   This is a very small passerine but a relatively stout flowerpecker, measuring 10 cm (3.9 in) in total length and weighing approximately 9 g ( 0.32 oz.). The male flowerpecker has blue-black  upperparts, a white throat and upper breast, and yellow lower breast and belly. The female is duller, with olive-brown upperparts.

Found where:   Bodhinagala rainforest, Kithulgala rainforest, Gilimale , Morapitiya, and Sinharaja  rainforests are the best places to see this birds.

Habitat:   The flowerpecker live in a wide variety of wooded and open habitats near forest edges, including dry woodlands, deciduous forests, riparian habitats, and tropical forests from sea level to 3700m.

Foods:   Nectar forms part of the diet, although they also take berries, spiders, and insects.

5. Lanka Sithasiya

Common Name :   Sri Lanka White-eye

Scientific Name:    Zosterops ceylonensis 

Animal Family:   Zosteropidae

Description:   The bird is larger than the Indian white-eye ( about 11 cm long) which it replaces above 4000ft. It is even more sociable than the other birds, forming very large, scattered flocks except in the breeding season, when the birds pair off. The breeding season is form March to May. Sometimes they have a second season in August-September. The nest is large and not quite solidly built. They lay two eggs that measure about 16.2 x 11.3mm. The eggs are very pale Prussian blue in color.

Found  where:   It is a resident breeder in forests, gardens and plantations, mainly in the highlands.

Habitat:   Usually encountered in active flocks within the canopy of forest and neighboring wooded areas in the hills and mountains. 

Foods:   Sri Lankan white eye will also eat nectar and fruits of various kinds.

4. Rathu Demalichcha

 

Common Name:   Orange-billed babbler

Scientific Name:   Turdoides rufescens

Animal Family:   Laughingthrushes

Description:   25cm. Medium- sized rusty-chestnut Argya babbler with orange- yellow bill and yellow legs. It is fairy common, living in flocks of seven or ten more. It is a noisy bird, and the presence of a flock may generally be known at some distance by the continual chattering, squeaking, and chirping with its members converse together.

Population:   In bird surveys of the wet and montane zone of Sri Lanka 2007-2009, Goodale et al. (2014) has 1,989 detections of this species and Kotagama and Goodale (2004) recorded it as being the most abundant species in mixed- species flock.

Found where:   Present in Sri Lanka EBA. Fairy common to  common in wet lowlands, usually rare on adjacent hills, but occasionally common above 700 m. Common in Sinharaja Forest Reserve.

Habitat:   Its habitat is rainforest, and it is seldom seen away from deep jungle. Although its habitat is under threat, it occurs in all the forests of the wet zone, and is quite common at prime sites Kithulgala  and Sinharaja.

Foods:   They are found mainly close to the ground where they feed on insects and berries but will also make use of trees.

3. Kehibella

 

 

Common Name:   Sri Lanka blue magpie

Scientific Name:   Urocissa ornata

Animal Family:   Corvidae

Description:   The Sri Lankan blue magpie measures 42-47 cm in length, and is large than a mynah, but smaller than a crow. Its plumage is bright blue , with a reddish-brown or chestnut head,neck, and wing. The juvenile of this species has a plumage similar to that of an adult, but overall duller, with a brown eye ring and a greyish hue to its blue feathers, especially on its underside. Moulting season for Sri Lanka ble magpies is from August and November.

Population:   Hence we retain a lower estimate of 9500-19500 for mature individuals.

Found where:   The species is suspected to have declined steadily, in line with forest loss in the wet zone in Sri Lanka. We can found in dense wet evergreen temperate rain forests in Sri Lanka including Sinharaja World Heritage Rainforest.

Habitat:   Tropical broadleaf evergreen forest, including edges of tea plantation. Occurs from as low as 50 m up to 2100 m, in lowlands and hills of wet zone.

Foods:   Sri Lankan blue magpie eating small frogs, lizards, insects, and other invertebrates, but will also eat fruit. 

2. Gira Maliththa or Pol Girawa

Common Name:   Sri Lanka hanging parrot

Scientific Name:   Loriculus beryllinus

Animal Family:   Psittaculidae

Description:   The Sri Lanka hanging parrot is a small hanging parrot that is 13cm long with a short tail. The adult has a red crown and rump. The nape and back have orange tint. The chin and throat are pale blue. Male has variable amounts of orange and red on the crown and a large orange chest patch, whereas the female has a bluish face. Not the long, pointed upper bill. Similar in length to Guayabera, but longer tailed and smaller- bodied. Females are involved in building the nest while males mostly remain close, observing the females. Breeding season includes the first part of the year and sometimes July-September.

Population:   Sri Lankan hanging parrot is a bird of open forest. It is strictly arboreal, never descending to the ground. It nests in holes in trees laying 2-3 eggs.

Found where:   Typically found in ones or twos in the canopy of forests in the Wet Zone. Confined to Sri Lanka, where the extremely small size and short tail make it easily identified from all other parrots on the island.

Habitat:   Wooded country, groves , plantation,  coconut  groves and gardens up to 1250 m , reaching 1600 m in NE monsoon.

Food:   It undergoes local movement, driven mainly by the availability of the fruit, seeds, buds, and blossoms that make up its diet.

1. Wali Kukula

Common Name:   Jungle fowl

Scientific Name:   Gallus lafayettii

Animal Family:   Phasianidae

Description:   The male Sri Lankan junglefowl ranges from 66-72 cm (26-28 in) in length and 790-1140g (1.74-2.51lb) in weight, essentially resembling a large, muscular rooster. as with other junglefowl, the Sri Lankan junglefowl is strongly sexually dimorphic; the male is much larger than the female, with more vivid plumage and a highly exaggerated wattle and comb. The male has orange-red body plumage, and dark purple to dark purple to black wings and tail.  

Population:   The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion.

Found where:   Commonly spotted at sites such as Kitulgala, Yala, and Sinharaja.  The species is found from sea-level up to 2000 meters of elevation

Habitat:   It is common in forests and scrub habitats.

Foods:   Ceylon Junglefowl feeds on plant matter such as grain, seeds, berries, flowers, leaves, and buds.