Birds of Sri Lanka

Every birds in the Wildlife of Sri Lanka guide: 373 species, grouped by family or group. Each name opens its page with photos, identification notes, habitat and range.

Junglefowl, Peafowl & Quails

• Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus
• Sri Lanka Junglefowl Gallus lafayettii
• Sri Lanka Spurfowl Galloperdix bicalcarata
• Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator
• Grey Francolin Ortygornis pondicerianus
• Jungle Bush-Quail Perdicula asiatica
• Blue-breasted Quail Synoicus chinensis
• Painted Francolin Francolinus pictus
• Rain Quail Coturnix coromandelica
• Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus

Ducks & Grebes

• Lesser Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna javanica
• Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
• Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
• Cotton Pygmy-Goose Nettapus coromandelianus
• Garganey Spatula querquedula
• Northern Pintail Anas acuta
• Indian Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha
• Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos
• Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope
• Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata
• Fulvous Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna bicolor
• Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea

Pigeons & Doves

• Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis
• Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea
• Orange-breasted Green-Pigeon Treron bicinctus
• Sri Lanka Green-Pigeon Treron pompadora
• Asian Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica
• Rock Pigeon Columba livia
• Sri Lanka Wood-Pigeon Columba torringtoniae
• Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto
• Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Treron phoenicopterus
• Oriental Turtle-Dove Streptopelia orientalis

Cuckoos & Malkohas

• Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis
• Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus
• Blue-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
• Pied Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus
• Grey-bellied Cuckoo Cacomantis passerinus
• Red-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus
• Green-billed Coucal Centropus chlororhynchos
• Sirkeer Malkoha Taccocua leschenaultii
• Common Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx varius
• Fork-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo Surniculus dicruroides
• Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus
• Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii
• Chestnut-winged Cuckoo Clamator coromandus
• Lesser Coucal Centropus bengalensis
• Lesser Cuckoo Cuculus poliocephalus

Nightjars, Frogmouths & Swifts

• Sri Lanka Frogmouth Batrachostomus moniliger
• Crested Treeswift Hemiprocne coronata
• Little Swift Apus affinis
• Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis
• Jerdon's Nightjar Caprimulgus atripennis
• Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus
• Indian Swiftlet Aerodramus unicolor
• Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba
• Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus
• Jungle Nightjar Caprimulgus indicus

Rails & Crakes

• White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
• Gray-headed Swamphen Porphyrio poliocephalus
• Eurasian Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
• Watercock Gallicrex cinerea
• Slaty-legged Crake Rallina eurizonoides
• Eurasian Coot Fulica atra
• Ruddy-breasted Crake Zapornia fusca
• Slaty-breasted Rail Lewinia striata
• Allen's Gallinule Porphyrio alleni

Shorebirds

• Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus
• Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
• Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus
• Great Stone-curlew Esacus recurvirostris
• Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus
• Common Redshank Tringa totanus
• Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
• Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
• Tibetan Sand-Plover Anarhynchus atrifrons
• Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
• Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva
• Indian Stone-curlew Burhinus indicus
• Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
• Little Ringed Plover Thinornis dubius
• Eurasian Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
• Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
• Little Stint Calidris minuta
• Kentish Plover Anarhynchus alexandrinus
• Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
• Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
• Pin-tailed Snipe Gallinago stenura
• Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata
• Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
• Small Pratincole Glareola lactea
• Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola
• Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum
• Greater Sand-Plover Anarhynchus leschenaultii
• Sanderling Calidris alba
• Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus
• Greater Painted-Snipe Rostratula benghalensis
• Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris
• Ruff Calidris pugnax
• Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
• Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
• Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
• Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
• Crab-Plover Dromas ardeola
• Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
• Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
• Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii
• Indian Courser Cursorius coromandelicus
• Broad-billed Sandpiper Calidris falcinellus
• Dunlin Calidris alpina
• Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta

Gulls, Terns & Skuas

• Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
• Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica
• Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
• Great Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii
• Brown-headed Gull Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus
• Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis
• White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
• Little Tern Sternula albifrons
• Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
• Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus
• Common Tern Sterna hirundo
• Pallas's Gull Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus
• Saunders's Tern Sternula saundersi
• Slender-billed Gull Chroicocephalus genei
• Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis
• Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
• Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana
• Brown Noddy Anous stolidus
• Lesser Noddy Anous tenuirostris
• Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus
• Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus
• Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus

Seabirds

• Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
• Flesh-footed Shearwater Ardenna carneipes
• Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus
• Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas
• Christmas Island Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi
• Great Frigatebird Fregata minor
• Masked Booby Sula dactylatra
• Wilson's Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus

Storks, Herons & Ibises

• Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii
• Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala
• Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis
• Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster
• Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger
• Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans
• Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
• Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus
• Little Egret Egretta garzetta
• Eastern Cattle-Egret Ardea coromanda
• Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
• Great Egret Ardea alba
• Asian Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus
• Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
• Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
• Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus
• Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
• Medium Egret Ardea intermedia
• Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
• Little Heron Butorides atricapilla
• Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
• Yellow Bittern Botaurus sinensis
• Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
• Black Bittern Botaurus flavicollis
• Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus
• Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis
• Cinnamon Bittern Botaurus cinnamomeus
• Malayan Night Heron Gorsachius melanolophus
• Chinese Pond-Heron Ardeola bacchus
• Red-naped Ibis Pseudibis papillosa

Birds of Prey

• Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus
• Changeable Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus cirrhatus
• Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela
• White-bellied Sea-Eagle Icthyophaga leucogaster
• Gray-headed Fish-Eagle Icthyophaga ichthyaetus
• Shikra Tachyspiza badia
• Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus
• Black Eagle Ictinaetus malaiensis
• Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus
• Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
• Osprey Pandion haliaetus
• Black Kite Milvus migrans
• Rufous-bellied Eagle Lophotriorchis kienerii
• Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus
• Legge's Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus kelaarti
• Crested Goshawk Lophospiza trivirgata
• Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
• Besra Tachyspiza virgata
• Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
• Jerdon's Baza Aviceda jerdoni
• Amur Falcon Falco amurensis
• Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus
• Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga
• Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus
• Oriental Hobby Falco severus

Owls

• Brown Fish-Owl Ketupa zeylonensis
• Indian Scops-Owl Otus bakkamoena
• Chestnut-backed Owlet Glaucidium castanotum
• Serendib Scops-Owl Otus thilohoffmanni
• Brown Boobook Ninox scutulata
• Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum
• Eastern Barn Owl Tyto javanica
• Brown Wood-Owl Strix leptogrammica
• Sri Lanka Bay Owl Phodilus assimilis
• Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl Ketupa nipalensis
• Oriental Scops-Owl Otus sunia

Hornbills, Hoopoe & Trogon

• Malabar Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros coronatus
• Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill Ocyceros gingalensis
• Malabar Trogon Harpactes fasciatus
• Common Hoopoe Upupa epops

Kingfishers, Bee-eaters & Rollers

• White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
• Asian Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis
• Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus
• Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
• Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis
• Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti
• Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
• Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis
• Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx erithaca
• European Bee-eater Merops apiaster
• Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata
• Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus
• Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis

Barbets & Woodpeckers

• Red-backed Flameback Dinopium psarodes
• Brown-headed Barbet Psilopogon zeylanicus
• Yellow-fronted Barbet Psilopogon flavifrons
• Crimson-fronted Barbet Psilopogon rubricapillus
• Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus
• Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus
• Crimson-backed Flameback Chrysocolaptes stricklandi
• Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Leiopicus mahrattensis
• White-naped Woodpecker Chrysocolaptes festivus
• Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Yungipicus nanus
• Streak-throated Woodpecker Picus xanthopygaeus
• Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense
• Rufous Woodpecker Micropternus brachyurus

Parrots

• Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
• Sri Lanka Hanging-Parrot Loriculus beryllinus
• Layard's Parakeet Psittacula calthrapae
• Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria
• Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala
• Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus
• Sun Parakeet Aratinga solstitialis

Songbirds

• Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
• Yellow-billed Babbler Argya affinis
• Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis
• Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
• House Crow Corvus splendens
• Purple-rumped Sunbird Leptocoma zeylonica
• Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus
• Indian Robin Copsychus fulicatus
• White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens
• Indian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi
• Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos
• White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus
• Loten's Sunbird Cinnyris lotenius
• White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata
• White-browed Fantail Rhipidura aureola
• Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius
• Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata
• Orange Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus
• Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus
• Plain Prinia Prinia inornata
• Jerdon's Bushlark Plocealauda affinis
• Sri Lanka Blue-Magpie Urocissa ornata
• Pale-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos
• Square-tailed Bulbul Hypsipetes ganeesa
• House Sparrow Passer domesticus
• Yellow-browed Bulbul Acritillas indica
• Common Iora Aegithina tiphia
• Tickell's Blue Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae
• Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata
• Sri Lanka White-eye Zosterops ceylonensis
• Sri Lanka Swallow Cecropis hyperythra
• Brown-breasted Flycatcher Muscicapa muttui
• Black-capped Bulbul Rubigula melanictera
• Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
• Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus
• Indian White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus
• Asian Tit Parus cinereus
• Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus
• Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
• Yellow-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus penicillatus
• Sri Lanka Shama Copsychus leggei
• Orange-billed Babbler Argya rufescens
• Sri Lanka Woodshrike Tephrodornis affinis
• Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis
• Spot-winged Thrush Geokichla spiloptera
• Jerdon's Leafbird Chloropsis jerdoni
• Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus
• Tricolored Munia Lonchura malacca
• Dark-fronted Babbler Dumetia atriceps
• Dull-blue Flycatcher Eumyias sordidus
• Sri Lanka Drongo Dicrurus lophorinus
• Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura
• Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus
• Sri Lanka Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus melanurus
• Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica
• Southern Hill Myna Gracula indica
• Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
• Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
• Rosy Starling Pastor roseus
• Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis
• Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix griseus
• Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis
• Ashy-headed Laughingthrush Argya cinereifrons
• Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea
• Brown-capped Babbler Pellorneum fuscocapillus
• Hill Swallow Hirundo domicola
• Tawny-bellied Babbler Dumetia hyperythra
• Sri Lanka Myna Gracula ptilogenys
• Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus
• White-throated Flowerpecker Pachyglossa vincens
• Gray-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii
• Black-headed Cuckooshrike Lalage melanoptera
• Indian Blackbird Turdus simillimus
• Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar
• Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense
• Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons
• White-faced Starling Sturnornis albofrontatus
• Brahminy Starling Sturnia pagodarum
• Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
• Sri Lanka Whistling-Thrush Myophonus blighi
• Kashmir Flycatcher Ficedula subrubra
• Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus
• Jungle Prinia Prinia sylvatica
• Thick-billed Flowerpecker Pachyglossa agilis
• Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
• Sri Lanka Bush Warbler Elaphrornis palliseri
• Indian Blue Robin Larvivora brunnea
• Sri Lanka Thrush Zoothera imbricata
• Pied Thrush Geokichla wardii
• Black-throated Munia Lonchura kelaarti
• Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica
• Orange-headed Thrush Geokichla citrina
• Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula
• Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum
• White-tailed Iora Aegithina nigrolutea
• Indian Cuckooshrike Coracina macei
• Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus
• Bank Swallow Riparia riparia
• Green Warbler Phylloscopus nitidus
• Large-billed Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus magnirostris
• Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus
• Blyth's Pipit Anthus godlewskii
• Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus
• Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi
• Bay-backed Shrike Lanius vittatus
• Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola
• Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides
• White Wagtail Motacilla alba
• Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola solitarius
• Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus speciosus
• Blue-throated Flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides
• Chestnut-tailed Starling Sturnia malabarica
• Daurian Starling Agropsar sturninus
• Eastern Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica
• Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis
• Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
• Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach
• Mongolian Short-toed Lark Calandrella dukhunensis
• Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush Monticola saxatilis
• Sykes's Warbler Iduna rama
• Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis
• Black-browed Reed Warbler Acrocephalus bistrigiceps
• Black-throated Thrush Turdus atrogularis
• Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti
• Eyebrowed Thrush Turdus obscurus
• Indian Golden Oriole Oriolus kundoo
• Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus
• Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina
• Lesser Whitethroat Curruca curruca
• Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

Frequently asked questions

How many birds are in the Wildlife of Sri Lanka guide?

The guide lists 373 birds of Sri Lanka, each with its own page covering identification, habitat and range.

Which groups of birds are covered?

Junglefowl, Peafowl & Quails (10), Ducks & Grebes (12), Pigeons & Doves (10), Cuckoos & Malkohas (15), Nightjars, Frogmouths & Swifts (10), Rails & Crakes (9), Shorebirds (44), Gulls, Terns & Skuas (22), Seabirds (8), Storks, Herons & Ibises (30), Birds of Prey (25), Owls (11), and 5 more groups.