Birds in Sri Lanka

Travel pictures from ශ්‍රී ලංකා/இலங்கை (Sri Lanka)

by Dr. Günther Eichhorn
Custom search in soaring.aerobaticsweb.org

Sri Lanka is a birder's paradise. I saw over 100 species of birds during my visit. Following are pictures of the birds from Sri Lanka. One of the best places for bird watching was the Sinharaja Rain Forest Reserve.

The Sinharaja Rain Forest Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nature pictures of Sri Lanka and other bird pages are linked:

Nature Page for Sri Lanka

Bird Pages

All pictures are © Dr. Günther Eichhorn, unless otherwise noted.

Sri Lanka Birds

Dull-blue Flycatcher (Eumyias sordidus, french: Gobemouche de Ceylan). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (832k)

Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica, french: Gobemouche brun). (585k)

Jerdon's Bush Lark (Mirafra affinis, german: Jerdonlerche, french: Alouette du Dekkan). (578k)

Jerdon's Bush Lark (Mirafra affinis, german: Jerdonlerche, french: Alouette du Dekkan). (2.3M)

Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia, german: Garteniora, french: Petit Iora). (636k)

Jungle Prinia (Prinia sylvatica). (499k)

Plain Prinia (Prinia inornata). (573k)

Purple-rumped Sunbird (Leptocoma zeylonica, german: Ceylonnektar­vogel). (610k)

Purple-rumped Sunbird (Leptocoma zeylonica, german: Ceylonnektar­vogel). (1253k)

Sri Lanka Thrush (Zoothera imbricata, german: Erddrosseln, french: Grive de Ceylan). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (592k)

Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea, french: Tchitrec azuré). (693k)

Coppersmith Barbet ssp. indicus (Psilopogon haemacephalus indicus, french: Barbu à plastron rouge). (556k)

Female Sri Lanka Pied Bush Chat (Saxicola caprata atratus, german: Wiesenschmätzer, french: Tarier pie). (569k)

Male Sri Lanka Pied Bush Chat (Saxicola caprata atratus, german: Wiesenschmätzer, french: Tarier pie). (418k)

Sri Lanka White-eye (Zosterops ceylonensis, french: Zostérops de Ceylan). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (665k)

Yellow-billed Babbler (Argya affinis, german: Gelbschnabel­drossling, french: Cratérope affin). It is endemic to Sri Lanka and southern India. (795k)

Brown-headed Barbet (Psilopogon zeylanicus, french: Barbu à tête brune). (647k)

Female Kinnis' Blackbird (Turdus simillimus kinnisii, french: Merle des Nilgiri), a subspecies of the Indian Blackbird, endemic to Sri Lanka. (586k)

Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica, german: Rauchschwalbe, french: Hirondelle rustique). (425k)

Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis, german: Smaragdspint, french: Guêpier d'Orient). (561k)

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti, german: Braunkopfspint, french: Guêpier de Leschenault). (590k)

Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri, german: Halsbandsittich, french: Perruche à collier). (1000k)

Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot (Loriculus beryllinus, german: Fledermaus­papageien, french: Coryllis de Ceylan). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (641k)

Female Layard's Parakeet (Psittacula calthrapae, german: Blauschwanz­sittich, french: Perruche de Layard). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (603k)

Male Layard's Parakeet (Psittacula calthrapae, german: Blauschwanz­sittich, french: Perruche de Layard). (1354k)

Indian Robin (Copsychus fulicatus, french: Pseudotraquet indien). (605k)

Oriental Magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis, german: Dajaldrossel, french: Shama dayal). (637k)

Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea, german: Gebirgsstelze, french: Bergeronnette des ruisseaux). (727k)

Tricolored Munia (Lonchura malacca, german: Schwarzbauch­nonne, french: Capucin à dos marron). (762k)

Sri Lanka Woodshrike (Tephrodornis affinis). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (770k)

Juvenile Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus, german: Braunwürger, french: Pie-grièche brune). (835k)

Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus, german: Braunwürger, french: Pie-grièche brune). (685k)

White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens, german: Graubrustdrongo, french: Drongo à ventre blanc). (490k)

Sri Lanka Drongo (Dicrurus lophorinus, french: Drongo drongup). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (670k)

Orange-billed Babbler (Argya rufescens, french: Cratérope de Ceylan). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (637k)

Black-capped Bulbul (Rubigula melanicterus, french: Bulbul à tête noire). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (550k)

Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer, german: Rußbülbül, french: Bulbul à ventre rouge). (742k)

Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer, german: Rußbülbül, french: Bulbul à ventre rouge). (1000k)

Square-tailed Bulbul (Hypsipetes ganeesa). (567k)

Black-hooded Oriole (Oriolus xanthornus, french: Loriot à capuchon noir). (514k)

White-faced Starling (Sturnornis albofrontatus, french: Étourneau de Ceylan). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (502k)

White-browed Fantail (Rhipidura aureola, german: Weißstirn-Fächerschwanz, french: Rhipidure à grands sourcils). (636k)

Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis, german: Perlhalstaube, french: Tourterelle tigrine). (560k)

Orange-breasted Green Pigeon (Treron bicinctus, german: Bindengrüntaube, french: Colombar à double collier). (528k)

Green Imperial Pigeon (Ducula aenea, german: Bronzefrucht­taube, french: Carpophage pauline). (552k)

Sri Lanka Green Pigeon (Treron pompadora, german: Andamanen-Grüntaube, french: Colombar pompadour). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (814k)

Sri Lanka Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica robinsoni, german: Graukappen-Glanztaube, french: Colombine turvert). (862k)

Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis, german: Hirtenmaina, french: Martin triste). (1016k)

Sri Lanka Hill Myna (Gracula ptilogenys). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (888k)

Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis, german: Hinduracke, french: Rollier indien). (651k)

White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus, french: Shama à croupion blanc). (608k)

Jacobin Cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus, german: Jakobinerkuckuck, french: Coucou jacobin). (876k)

Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis, german: Heckenkuckuck, french: Grand Coucal). (990k)

Red-faced Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus, german: Rotgesicht-Malkoha, french: Malcoha à face rouge). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (1227k)

House Crow (Corvus splendens, german: Glanzkrähe, french: Corbeau familier). (652k)

Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos, german: Dickschnabel­krähe, french: Corbeau à gros bec). (760k)

Pair of Sri Lanka Frogmouths (Batrachostomus moniliger, german: Ceylonfroschmaul, french: Podarge de Ceylan), female on the right. (687k)

Sri Lanka Frogmouth (Batrachostomus moniliger, german: Ceylonfroschmaul, french: Podarge de Ceylan). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (722k)

Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker (Yungipicus moluccensis, french: Pic nain). (614k)

Malabar Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus, german: Malabarhornvogel, french: Calao de Malabar) in flight. (799k)

Malabar Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus, german: Malabarhornvogel, french: Calao de Malabar). (1166k)

Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros gingalensis, german: Ceylon-Grautoko, french: Calao de Ceylan). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (481k)

Hanuman Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus seebohmi, german: Seeregenpfeifer, french: Pluvier à collier interrompu). (1403k)

Non-breeding Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva, german: Sibirischer Goldregenpfeifer, french: Pluvier fauve). (989k)

Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus, german: Mongolenregen­pfeifer, french: Pluvier de Mongolie). (729k)

Common Redshank (Tringa totanus, german: Rotschenkel, french: Chevalier gambette). (691k)

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola, german: Bruchwasser­läufer, french: Chevalier sylvain). (587k)

Common Redshank (Tringa totanus, german: Rotschenkel, french: Chevalier gambette). (1.6M)

Female Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus, german: Stelzenläufer, french: Échasse blanche). (1108k)

Male Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus, german: Stelzenläufer, french: Échasse blanche). (643k)

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa, german: Uferschnepfe, french: Barge à queue noire). (824k)

Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus, german: Rotlappenkiebitz, french: Vanneau indien). (776k)

Yellow-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus, german: Gelblappen­kiebitz, french: Vanneau de Malabar), endemic to Sri Lanka and the Indian subcontinent. (1188k)

Non-breeding White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus, german: Weißflügelsee­schwalbe, french: Guifette leucoptère). (567k)

White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus, german: Weißflügelsee­schwalbe, french: Guifette leucoptère). (627k)

White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus, german: Weißflügelsee­schwalbe, french: Guifette leucoptère). (594k)

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida, german: Weißbart-Seeschwalbe, french: Guifette moustac) in flight. (620k)

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida, german: Weißbart-Seeschwalbe, french: Guifette moustac). (470k)

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida, german: Weißbart-Seeschwalbe, french: Guifette moustac) in winter plumage. (784k)

Great Thick-knee (Esacus recurvirostris, french: Grand Œdicnème). (1.7M)

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis, german: Zwergtaucher, french: Grèbe castagneux). (782k)

Lesser Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna javanica, german: Zwergpfeifgans, french: Dendrocygne siffleur). (849k)

Pin-tailed Snipe (Gallinago stenura, german: Spießbekassine, french: Bécassine à queue pointue). (1180k)

White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus, french: Râle à poitrine blanche). (917k)

Grey-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus). (825k)

Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus, german: Fasanblatt­hühnchen, french: Jacana à longue queue). (844k)

Asian Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis leucomelanurus, german: Graufischer, french: Martin-pêcheur pie). (632k)

White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis, german: Braunliest, french: Martin-chasseur de Smyrne). (746k)

Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx erithaca, german: Dschungelzwerg­fischer, french: Martin-pêcheur pourpré). (500k)

Continental Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis, german: Kormoran, french: Grand Cormoran), left, and Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger, german: Mohrenscharbe, french: Cormoran de Vieillot), right. (758k)

Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger, german: Mohrenscharbe, french: Cormoran de Vieillot) drying its wings. (902k)

Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster, german: Indischer Schlangenhals­vogel, french: Anhinga roux), drying its wings. (529k)

Oriental Darters (Anhinga melanogaster, german: Indischer Schlangenhals­vogel, french: Anhinga roux). (818k)

Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii, german: Paddyreiher, french: Crabier de Gray). (760k)

Juvenile Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii, german: Paddyreiher, french: Crabier de Gray). (892k)

Old World Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax, german: Nachtreiher, french: Bihoreau gris). (799k)

Eastern Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis coromandus, german: Kuhreiher, french: Héron garde-bœufs) and Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus, german: Schwarzkopfibis, french: Ibis à tête noire). (1025k)

Western Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta, german: Seidenreiher, french: Aigrette garzette). (829k)

Eastern Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis coromandus, german: Kuhreiher, french: Héron garde-bœufs). (623k)

Eastern Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis coromandus, german: Kuhreiher, french: Héron garde-bœufs) and Indian Boar (Sus scrofa cristatus, german: Wildschwein, french: Sanglier). (651k)

Eastern Great Egret (Ardea alba modesta, german: Silberreiher, french: Grande Aigrette) and Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger, german: Mohrenscharbe, french: Cormoran de Vieillot). (1028k)

Eastern Great Egret (Ardea alba modesta, german: Silberreiher, french: Grande Aigrette). (612k)

Western Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea cinerea, german: Graureiher, french: Héron cendré) and Western Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta, german: Seidenreiher, french: Aigrette garzette) in flight. (934k)

Western Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea cinerea, german: Graureiher, french: Héron cendré). (876k)

Eastern Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea manilensis, german: Purpurreiher, french: Héron pourpré). (2.4M)

Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis, german: Graupelikan, french: Pélican à bec tacheté). (542k)

Nesting Eurasian Spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia, german: Löffler, french: Spatule blanche). (965k)

Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia, german: Löffler, french: Spatule blanche). (694k)

Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus, german: Schwarzkopfibis, french: Ibis à tête noire). (872k)

Asian Openbill Stork (Anastomus oscitans, german: Silberklaff­schnabel, french: Bec-ouvert indien). (707k)

Asian Openbill Stork (Anastomus oscitans, german: Silberklaff­schnabel, french: Bec-ouvert indien). (821k)

Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala, german: Buntstorch, french: Tantale indien). (1266k)

Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus, german: Riesenstorch, french: Jabiru d'Asie). (796k)

Asian Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus episcopus, german: Wollhalsstorch, french: Cigogne épiscopale). (1210k)

Asian Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus episcopus, german: Wollhalsstorch, french: Cigogne épiscopale). (865k)

Lesser Adjudant (Leptoptilos javanicus, german: Sunda-Marabu, french: Marabout chevelu). (1188k)

Lesser Adjudant (Leptoptilos javanicus, german: Sunda-Marabu, french: Marabout chevelu). (468k)

Female Sri Lankan Junglefowl (Gallus lafayettii, german: Ceylonhuhn, french: Coq de Lafayette). (879k)

Male Sri Lankan Junglefowl (Gallus lafayettii, german: Ceylonhuhn, french: Coq de Lafayette). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (871k)

Sri Lanka Peafowl (Pavo cristatus singhalensis, german: Blauer Pfau, french: Paon bleu). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (1127k)

Sri Lanka Peafowl (Pavo cristatus singhalensis, german: Blauer Pfau, french: Paon bleu). (1000k)

Sri Lanka Peafowl (Pavo cristatus singhalensis, german: Blauer Pfau, french: Paon bleu). (560k)

Sri Lanka Peafowl (Pavo cristatus singhalensis, german: Blauer Pfau, french: Paon bleu). (568k)

Sri Lanka Peafowl (Pavo cristatus singhalensis, german: Blauer Pfau, french: Paon bleu). (978k)

Barn Owl (Tyto alba, german: Schleiereule, french: Chouette effraie). (667k)

Brown Fish Owl (Ketupa zeylonensis, german: Wellenbrust-Fischuhu, french: Kétoupa brun). (910k)

Serendib Scops Owl (Otus thilohoffmanni, german: Serendib-Zwergohreule, french: Petit-duc de Sérendip). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (670k)

Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus, german: Brahminenweih, french: Milan sacré). (663k)

Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus, german: Brahminenweih, french: Milan sacré) in flight. (617k)

Asian Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus vociferus, german: Gleitaar, french: Élanion blac). (647k)

Changeable Hawk Eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus, french: Aigle huppé). (662k)

Juvenile Changeable Hawk Eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus, french: Aigle huppé). (987k)

Juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela, german: Schlangenweihe, french: Serpentaire bacha). (678k)

Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela, german: Schlangenweihe, french: Serpentaire bacha) in flight. (701k)

Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela, german: Schlangenweihe, french: Serpentaire bacha) eating a snake. (942k)

Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela, german: Schlangenweihe, french: Serpentaire bacha) eating a snake. (1008k)

Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela, german: Schlangenweihe, french: Serpentaire bacha). (597k)

Close-up of a Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela, german: Schlangenweihe, french: Serpentaire bacha). (586k)

White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster, german: Weißbauchsee­adler, french: Pygargue blagre). (750k)

White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster, german: Weißbauchsee­adler, french: Pygargue blagre) in flight. (1021k)

Juvenile White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster, german: Weißbauchsee­adler, french: Pygargue blagre). (489k)

Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus ichthyaetus, german: Graukopfseeadler, french: Pygargue à tête grise). (830k)

Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus ichthyaetus, german: Graukopfseeadler, french: Pygargue à tête grise) in flight. (586k)

This page contains 143 pictures of 104 bird species and 1 other species

Main page for ශ්‍රී ලංකා/இலங்கை (Sri Lanka)

Page last updated on Thu Dec 31 11:24:06 2020 (Mountain Standard Time)

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