Birds of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka hosts 374 regularly occurring species in this directory, 29 of them found nowhere else. Ordered by how often each bird is reported in the country.
Endemic to Sri Lanka
Found in this country and nowhere else on Earth.
- Red-backed FlamebackDinopium psarodes
- Sri Lanka SwallowCecropis hyperythra
- Crimson-fronted BarbetPsilopogon rubricapillus
- Sri Lanka Hanging ParrotLoriculus beryllinus
- Sri Lanka JunglefowlGallus lafayettii
- Yellow-fronted BarbetPsilopogon flavifrons
- Sri Lanka Grey HornbillOcyceros gingalensis
- Sri Lanka Scimitar BabblerPomatorhinus melanurus
- Layard's ParakeetPsittacula calthrapae
- Sri Lanka White-eyeZosterops ceylonensis
- Brown-capped BabblerPellorneum fuscocapillus
- Sri Lanka WoodshrikeTephrodornis affinis
- Crimson-backed FlamebackChrysocolaptes stricklandi
- Sri Lanka DrongoDicrurus lophorinus
- Spot-winged ThrushGeokichla spiloptera
- Sri Lanka Hill MynaGracula ptilogenys
- Yellow-eared BulbulPycnonotus penicillatus
- Sri Lanka Blue MagpieUrocissa ornata
- Sri Lanka SpurfowlGalloperdix bicalcarata
- Dull-blue FlycatcherEumyias sordidus
- Sri Lanka Wood PigeonColumba torringtoniae
- Chestnut-backed OwletGlaucidium castanotum
- Green-billed CoucalCentropus chlororhynchos
- White-faced StarlingSturnornis albofrontatus
- Red-faced MalkohaPhaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus
- Sri Lanka Bush WarblerElaphrornis palliseri
- Sri Lanka ThrushZoothera imbricata
- Serendib Scops OwlOtus thilohoffmanni
- Sri Lanka Whistling ThrushMyophonus blighi
All regular species
- Red-vented BulbulPycnonotus cafer
- Spotted DoveSpilopelia chinensis
- Common MynaAcridotheres tristis
- White-throated KingfisherHalcyon smyrnensis
- Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameri
- House CrowCorvus splendens
- Common TailorbirdOrthotomus sutorius
- Brown-headed BarbetPsilopogon zeylanicus
- Purple-rumped SunbirdLeptocoma zeylonica
- Oriental Magpie-RobinCopsychus saularis
- Black-hooded OrioleOriolus xanthornus
- Indian Pond HeronArdeola grayii
- Asian KoelEudynamys scolopaceus
- Red-wattled LapwingVanellus indicus
- Brahminy KiteHaliastur indus
- Pale-billed FlowerpeckerDicaeum erythrorhynchos
- White-bellied DrongoDicrurus caerulescens
- Greater CoucalCentropus sinensis
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Large-billed CrowCorvus macrorhynchos
- Little CormorantMicrocarbo niger
- Blue-tailed Bee-eaterMerops philippinus
- Green Imperial PigeonDucula aenea
- White-breasted WaterhenAmaurornis phoenicurus
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Indian PeafowlPavo cristatus
- Great EgretArdea alba
- Barn SwallowHirundo rustica
- Asian Palm SwiftCypsiurus balasiensis
- Black-headed IbisThreskiornis melanocephalus
- Loten's SunbirdCinnyris lotenius
- Red-backed FlamebackDinopium psarodes
- White-browed BulbulPycnonotus luteolus
- Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulata
- Oriental DarterAnhinga melanogaster
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Lesser Whistling DuckDendrocygna javanica
- Purple HeronArdea purpurea
- Asian OpenbillAnastomus oscitans
- Indian CormorantPhalacrocorax fuscicollis
- Sri Lanka SwallowCecropis hyperythra
- Crimson-fronted BarbetPsilopogon rubricapillus
- Spot-billed PelicanPelecanus philippensis
- White-rumped MuniaLonchura striata
- Sri Lanka Hanging ParrotLoriculus beryllinus
- Indian Paradise FlycatcherTerpsiphone paradisi
- Sri Lanka JunglefowlGallus lafayettii
- Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus
- Plain PriniaPrinia inornata
- Common IoraAegithina tiphia
- Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Brown ShrikeLanius cristatus
- Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
- Purple SwamphenPorphyrio porphyrio
- Painted StorkMycteria leucocephala
- Asian Green Bee-eaterMerops orientalis
- Little SwiftApus affinis
- Yellow-fronted BarbetPsilopogon flavifrons
- Crested Serpent EagleSpilornis cheela
- Paddyfield PipitAnthus rufulus
- Indian SwiftletAerodramus unicolor
- White-browed FantailRhipidura aureola
- Sri Lanka Green PigeonTreron pompadora
- Indian White-eyeZosterops palpebrosus
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Sri Lanka Grey HornbillOcyceros gingalensis
- Square-tailed BulbulHypsipetes ganeesa
- Scarlet MinivetPericrocotus flammeus
- Pheasant-tailed JacanaHydrophasianus chirurgus
- Purple SunbirdCinnyris asiaticus
- Stork-billed KingfisherPelargopsis capensis
- Tickell's Blue FlycatcherCyornis tickelliae
- Common Emerald DoveChalcophaps indica
- Changeable Hawk-EagleNisaetus cirrhatus
- Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis
- Yellow-browed BulbulAcritillas indica
- Small MinivetPericrocotus cinnamomeus
- Pied KingfisherCeryle rudis
- Common RedshankTringa totanus
- Coppersmith BarbetPsilopogon haemacephalus
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
- Alexandrine ParakeetPsittacula eupatria
- Orange-breasted Green PigeonTreron bicinctus
- Sri Lanka Scimitar BabblerPomatorhinus melanurus
- Crested TreeswiftHemiprocne coronata
- Ashy PriniaPrinia socialis
- Layard's ParakeetPsittacula calthrapae
- Gull-billed TernGelochelidon nilotica
- Green WarblerPhylloscopus nitidus
- Cinereous TitParus cinereus
- Southern Hill MynaGracula indica
- Sri Lanka White-eyeZosterops ceylonensis
- Brown-capped BabblerPellorneum fuscocapillus
- Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilis
- Jerdon's LeafbirdChloropsis jerdoni
- Indian PittaPitta brachyura
- Brown-breasted FlycatcherMuscicapa muttui
- Tricolored MuniaLonchura malacca
- Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia
- Malabar Pied HornbillAnthracoceros coronatus
- Crested Honey BuzzardPernis ptilorhynchus
- Blyth's Reed WarblerAcrocephalus dumetorum
- Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticorax
- Indian RollerCoracias benghalensis
- Chestnut-headed Bee-eaterMerops leschenaulti
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrikeHemipus picatus
- Great Stone-curlewEsacus recurvirostris
- Sri Lanka WoodshrikeTephrodornis affinis
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Black-naped MonarchHypothymis azurea
- Crimson-backed FlamebackChrysocolaptes stricklandi
- Yellow-wattled LapwingVanellus malabaricus
- Velvet-fronted NuthatchSitta frontalis
- Asian Woolly-necked StorkCiconia episcopus
- Little TernSternula albifrons
- Pacific Golden PloverPluvialis fulva
- Sri Lanka DrongoDicrurus lophorinus
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Little StintCalidris minuta
- Lesser YellownapePicus chlorolophus
- Greater Crested TernThalasseus bergii
- Spot-winged ThrushGeokichla spiloptera
- Grey-headed Fish EagleIcthyophaga ichthyaetus
- Ashy WoodswallowArtamus fuscus
- Sri Lanka Hill MynaGracula ptilogenys
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
- Jacobin CuckooClamator jacobinus
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- Yellow-eared BulbulPycnonotus penicillatus
- Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Ashy-crowned Sparrow-LarkEremopterix griseus
- Sri Lanka Blue MagpieUrocissa ornata
- Golden-fronted LeafbirdChloropsis aurifrons
- Sri Lanka SpurfowlGalloperdix bicalcarata
- Rosy StarlingPastor roseus
- Grey-headed Canary-flycatcherCulicicapa ceylonensis
- Striated HeronButorides striata
- Lesser Crested TernThalasseus bengalensis
- Grey-breasted PriniaPrinia hodgsonii
- Large-billed Leaf WarblerPhylloscopus magnirostris
- Forest WagtailDendronanthus indicus
- Tawny-bellied BabblerDumetia hyperythra
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferruginea
- Jungle PriniaPrinia sylvatica
- Pin-tailed SnipeGallinago stenura
- Malabar TrogonHarpactes fasciatus
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- Baya WeaverPloceus philippinus
- Common HoopoeUpupa epops
- Dull-blue FlycatcherEumyias sordidus
- Sri Lanka Wood PigeonColumba torringtoniae
- Indian Stone-curlewBurhinus indicus
- Brown-headed GullChroicocephalus brunnicephalus
- Grey-bellied CuckooCacomantis passerinus
- Chestnut-backed OwletGlaucidium castanotum
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpres
- White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterus
- Green-billed CoucalCentropus chlororhynchos
- Plum-headed ParakeetPsittacula cyanocephala
- Oriental SkylarkAlauda gulgula
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
- Hill SwallowHirundo domicola
- Black DrongoDicrurus macrocercus
- Yellow-eyed BabblerChrysomma sinense
- Brown Fish OwlKetupa zeylonensis
- Brown-capped Pygmy WoodpeckerYungipicus nanus
- Lesser AdjutantLeptoptilos javanicus
- Sri Lanka FrogmouthBatrachostomus moniliger
- Indian Scops OwlOtus bakkamoena
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- GarganeySpatula querquedula
- Pied Bush ChatSaxicola caprata
- WatercockGallicrex cinerea
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarola
- Barred ButtonquailTurnix suscitator
- White-faced StarlingSturnornis albofrontatus
- Clamorous Reed WarblerAcrocephalus stentoreus
- Bridled TernOnychoprion anaethetus
- Jerdon's NightjarCaprimulgus atripennis
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- Grey FrancolinOrtygornis pondicerianus
- Red-faced MalkohaPhaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus
- Brown BoobookNinox scutulata
- Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata
- Black-rumped FlamebackDinopium benghalense
- Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus
- Indian NightjarCaprimulgus asiaticus
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- Indian BlackbirdTurdus simillimus
- Yellow-crowned WoodpeckerLeiopicus mahrattensis
- Black-throated MuniaLonchura kelaarti
- Cotton Pygmy GooseNettapus coromandelianus
- Black-backed Dwarf KingfisherCeyx erithaca
- Indian CuckooshrikeCoracina macei
- Streaked WeaverPloceus manyar
- Kashmir FlycatcherFicedula subrubra
- Sri Lanka Bush WarblerElaphrornis palliseri
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
- Sri Lanka ThrushZoothera imbricata
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Brahminy StarlingSturnia pagodarum
- Serendib Scops OwlOtus thilohoffmanni
- Sri Lanka Whistling ThrushMyophonus blighi
- Square-tailed Drongo-CuckooSurniculus lugubris
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- Indian CuckooCuculus micropterus
- Brown-backed NeedletailHirundapus giganteus
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- Jungle OwletGlaucidium radiatum
- Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Booted EagleHieraaetus pennatus
- Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melba
- Pied ThrushGeokichla wardii
- Indian SilverbillEuodice malabarica
- Legge's Hawk-EagleNisaetus kelaarti
- Sirkeer MalkohaTaccocua leschenaultii
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Banded Bay CuckooCacomantis sonneratii
- Small PratincoleGlareola lactea
- Marshall's IoraAegithina nigrolutea
- Temminck's StintCalidris temminckii
- Citrine WagtailMotacilla citreola
- White WagtailMotacilla alba
- Brown Wood OwlStrix leptogrammica
- Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
- Eurasian CootFulica atra
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- Terek SandpiperXenus cinereus
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- Black-necked StorkEphippiorhynchus asiaticus
- White-naped WoodpeckerChrysocolaptes festivus
- Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
- Greater Painted-snipeRostratula benghalensis
- Rufous-bellied EagleLophotriorchis kienerii
- Eastern Red-rumped SwallowCecropis daurica
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- Orange-headed ThrushGeokichla citrina
- Greater Racket-tailed DrongoDicrurus paradiseus
- Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseus
- Slaty-legged CrakeRallina eurizonoides
- Knob-billed DuckSarkidiornis melanotos
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Western Reef HeronEgretta gularis
- Spot-bellied Eagle-OwlKetupa nipalensis
- Richard's PipitAnthus richardi
- Indian Spot-billed DuckAnas poecilorhyncha
- Eastern Yellow WagtailMotacilla tschutschensis
- Blyth's PipitAnthus godlewskii
- Streak-throated WoodpeckerPicus xanthopygaeus
- Ashy DrongoDicrurus leucophaeus
- Rufous WoodpeckerMicropternus brachyurus
- Long-tailed ShrikeLanius schach
- Common BuzzardButeo buteo
- Wilson's Storm PetrelOceanites oceanicus
- Eastern Barn OwlTyto javanica
- Oriental PratincoleGlareola maldivarum
- Oriental Scops OwlOtus sunia
- Pallas's GullIchthyaetus ichthyaetus
- Great KnotCalidris tenuirostris
- Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
- Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
- Crab-ploverDromas ardeola
- Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinus
- Sri Lanka Bay OwlPhodilus assimilis
- Chestnut-winged CuckooClamator coromandus
- Broad-billed SandpiperCalidris falcinellus
- Sooty TernOnychoprion fuscatus
- Long-toed StintCalidris subminuta
- Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatus
- Parasitic JaegerStercorarius parasiticus
- Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
- King QuailSynoicus chinensis
- Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudus
- Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
- Green-winged TealAnas crecca
- Oriental DollarbirdEurystomus orientalis
- Jungle Bush QuailPerdicula asiatica
- Indian Golden OrioleOriolus kundoo
- Lesser CuckooCuculus poliocephalus
- Black-capped KingfisherHalcyon pileata
- Jungle NightjarCaprimulgus indicus
- Bay-backed ShrikeLanius vittatus
- Painted FrancolinFrancolinus pictus
- Greater Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactyla
- Jerdon's BazaAviceda jerdoni
- Yellow-footed Green PigeonTreron phoenicopterus
- Pallid HarrierCircus macrourus
- Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Saunders's TernSternula saundersi
- Lesser NoddyAnous tenuirostris
- Streak-throated SwallowPetrochelidon fluvicola
- Pied HarrierCircus melanoleucos
- European Bee-eaterMerops apiaster
- Malayan Night HeronGorsachius melanolophus
- Brown NoddyAnous stolidus
- Indian CourserCursorius coromandelicus
- Red KnotCalidris canutus
- Slender-billed GullChroicocephalus genei
- Amur FalconFalco amurensis
- Collared PratincoleGlareola pratincola
- Brown BoobySula leucogaster
- Black-naped OrioleOriolus chinensis
- Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargus
- Blue-cheeked Bee-eaterMerops persicus
- Grey-necked BuntingEmberiza buchanani
- Eastern Marsh HarrierCircus spilonotus
- Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminata
- Siberian StonechatSaxicola maurus
- Red-billed TropicbirdPhaethon aethereus
- Red-throated PipitAnthus cervinus
- Red-naped IbisPseudibis papillosa
- Black-winged PratincoleGlareola nordmanni
- Roseate TernSterna dougallii
- Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
- Isabelline WheatearOenanthe isabellina
- Red-necked StintCalidris ruficollis
- Blue-throated Blue FlycatcherCyornis rubeculoides
- Great TitParus major
- Oriental Turtle DoveStreptopelia orientalis
- Blue Rock ThrushMonticola solitarius
- Desert WheatearOenanthe deserti
- Daurian StarlingAgropsar sturninus
- Grey-headed LapwingVanellus cinereus
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- Chestnut-tailed StarlingSturnia malabarica
- Blue-and-white FlycatcherCyanoptila cyanomelana
- Lesser FrigatebirdFregata ariel
- White-tailed TropicbirdPhaethon lepturus
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus
- Eyebrowed ThrushTurdus obscurus
- Muscovy DuckCairina moschata
- Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- Eurasian WryneckJynx torquilla
- Common Rock ThrushMonticola saxatilis
- Persian ShearwaterPuffinus persicus
- Fulvous Whistling DuckDendrocygna bicolor
- Common SwiftApus apus
- Black-headed BuntingEmberiza melanocephala
- Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferruginea
- Chinese Pond HeronArdeola bacchus
- Streaked ShearwaterCalonectris leucomelas
- Pacific SwallowHirundo javanica
- Great FrigatebirdFregata minor
- Masked BoobySula dactylatra
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- White-rumped ShamaCopsychus malabaricus
- European Honey BuzzardPernis apivorus
- Tropical ShearwaterPuffinus bailloni
- Eurasian HobbyFalco subbuteo
- African OpenbillAnastomus lamelligerus
- Christmas FrigatebirdFregata andrewsi
- DunlinCalidris alpina
- Rain QuailCoturnix coromandelica
- Greenish WarblerPhylloscopus trochiloides
- Asian House MartinDelichon dasypus
- Bulwer's PetrelBulweria bulwerii
- Black-browed Reed WarblerAcrocephalus bistrigiceps
- Barau's PetrelPterodroma baraui
- Western House MartinDelichon urbicum
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagris
- White-browed WagtailMotacilla maderaspatensis
- Red-footed BoobySula sula
- Common QuailCoturnix coturnix
- Asian DowitcherLimnodromus semipalmatus
Rare visitors
Recorded here, though only as vagrants or rarities.
- Common CuckooCuculus canorus
- Booted WarblerIduna caligata
- Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
- Red Collared DoveStreptopelia tranquebarica
- Black BulbulHypsipetes leucocephalus
- European RollerCoracias garrulus
- Common Hill MynaGracula religiosa
- Blue-eared KingfisherAlcedo meninting
- Himalayan BuzzardButeo refectus
- Javan MuniaLonchura leucogastroides
- White StorkCiconia ciconia
- Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinus
- Wire-tailed SwallowHirundo smithii
- Red JunglefowlGallus gallus
- Bar-headed GooseAnser indicus
- South Polar SkuaStercorarius maccormicki
- Mountain Hawk-EagleNisaetus nipalensis
- Red-headed BuntingEmberiza bruniceps
- Jouanin's PetrelBulweria fallax
- Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus
- Ortolan BuntingEmberiza hortulana
- Goliath HeronArdea goliath
- Black-naped TernSterna sumatrana
- Brown SkuaStercorarius antarcticus
- White's ThrushZoothera aurea
- Yellow-rumped FlycatcherFicedula zanthopygia
- Swinhoe's SnipeGallinago megala