Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus)

English: Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Binomial Name: Merops philippinus
Sinhala: නිල්පෙඳ බිඟුහරයා

Resident breeder and a migratory bird lives in Asian countries including Sri Lanka. Feed on bees and other insects. The chances are higher to see this bird in Sri Lanka during winter (August - May) as many bee eaters migrate to Sri Lanka to spend the winder.

Spine-tufted Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysis)

English: Spine-tufted Skimmer
Binomial Name: Orthetrum chrysis 

 

Widely distributed dragonfly in Asian countries including Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka it lives mostly in lowland wet-zone and mid hills. They live close to pools and marshes.

Tiny Grass Blue (Zizula hylax)

English: Tiny Grass Blue
Binomial Name: Zizula hylax

Z. hylax is a widely distributed butterfly in Asia, Africa and Australia including Sri Lanka. Food plants belong to Acanthaceae family.

Frogmouth (Batrachostomus moniliger)

English: Frogmouth Binomial Name: Batrachostomus moniliger Sinhala: මැඩිමුහුණා[Madimuhuna] B. moniliger is a nocturnal breeding resident bird of Sri lanka. Another sub species of this bird (ssp. roonwali) can be seen in India. Habitat is dense forests and forest edges. More common in wet-zone. Body color resembles the dried leaves to make it difficult to identify at once. Male is bigger in size and body color is gray-brown. Female is has the body color of chestnut brown. They feed on insects by catching in flight.

Gordonia speciosa

Binomial Name: Gordonia speciosa
Sinhala: රතු මිහිරිය/රත් මිහිරිය[Rathu mihiriya  / Rath mihiriya]

Gordonia speciosa is an endemic tree that can be found in montane zone of Sri Lanka. All the species of Gordonia found in Sri Lanka are endemic and restricted to central hills.

Satyrium nepalense

English: Hyacinth orchid
Binomial Name: Satyrium nepalense
 
Satyrium nepalense is a ground orchid that grows in montane zone of Sri Lanka. Common in Pathana grasslands such as Horton National Park. This orchid can be seen in other Asian countries such as India and China.

Common paddy field frog (Fejervarya limnocharis)

English: Common paddy field frog/Indian cricket frog/Boie's wart frog/rice field frog/Asian grass frog  
Binomial Name: Fejervarya limnocharis
Sinhala: වෙල් මැඩියා[Wel madiya]

Fejervarya limnocharis is a widely distributed frog lives in South Asian countries including Sri Lanka. This frog can be seen in both wet zone and dry zone close to water bodies.

Conchidium muscicola

Binomial Name: Conchidium muscicola/Eria muscicola/Dendrobium muscicola

Widely distributed species of orchid in Asian countries. Flowers are light green. Grows on stems of trees and stones. In Sri Lanka this orchid can be seen in low-land wet zone and montane zone.

Indian blue robin (Luscinia brunnea)

English: Indian blue robin
Binomial Name:Luscinia brunnea
Sinhala: ඉන්දු නිල් සිටිකිච්චා[Indu nil sitikichcha]

Luscinia brunnea is a migratory species of bird that can be seen mostly in highland forests of Sri Lanka. They breed in Himalayan mountain range and visit Sri Lanka during winter. This bird feeds on insects.

Sri Lanka blue magpie (Urocissa ornata)

English: Sri Lanka blue magpie/Ceylon magpie
Binomial Name: Urocissa ornata
Sinhala: කැහිබෙල්ලා/කන්කෑරැස්සා[Kehibella/Kankeressa]

An endemic bird of Sri Lanka. Its population has been restricted to the undisturbed wet-zone forests. Live as groups of six to seven members. They are carnivorous and mainly feed on frogs, lizards and insects. But sometimes feed on fruits. Common in wet-zone dense forests such as Sinharaja.

Shaw’s Wolf Snake (Lycodon striatus sinhaleyus)

English: Shaw’s Wolf Snake
Binomial Name: Lycodon striatus sinhaleyus
Sinhala: ඉරි කරවලා/කබර රදනකයා[Iri karawala/Kabara radanakaya]

Shaw’s Wolf Snake is a non venomous colubrid snake found in Sri Lanka. Sub species sinhaleyus is endemic. Other sub species of this snake has been distributed in other Asian countries. More common in wet-zone compared to dry zone. Feed on geckos. Most of the time it is misunderstood with venomous Kraits.

Red Helen (Papilio helenus)

English: Red Helen
Binomial Name: Papilio helenus

Red Helen is a butterfly distributed across Asian countries. In Sri Lanka it can be seen in forests and difficult to find close to human habitats. More common in wet zone. It looks similar to Papilio polytes, but large in size. Larval food plants belong to Rutaceae family.

Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

English: Grey wagtail
Binomial Name: Motacilla cinerea/Motacilla melanope/ Calobates melanope
Sinhala: අළු හැලපෙන්දා [Alu helapenda]

Grey wagtail is a migrant bird distributed across many parts of the world including Asia, Europe and Africa. In Sri Lanka it lives in all environmental regions and can be seen near water- paddy-fields, forest openings and running streams. They mainly feed on variety of aquatic invertebrates including adult flies, mayflies, beetles, crustacea and molluscs.