Yellow-wattled lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus)

English: Yellow-wattled lapwing
Binomial: Vanellus malabaricus
Sinhala: කහ-යටිමල් කිරළා

Yellow-wattled lapwing is a common bird found in the Indian sub continent. They mainly live in dry areas compared to the Red-wattled lapwing. Females lay eggs in a nest made in the ground. Color of the eggs is light brown and there are blackish-brown spots scattered on the surface. It is 'Least concerned' in the IUCN Red List. Above photographs were taken at Yala National Park in June, 2015.

Common iora (Aegithina tiphia)

English: Common iora
Binomial: Aegithina tiphia
Sinhala: පොදු අයෝරාවා[Podu ayorawa]

Common iora is a widely distributed bird in Indian subcontinent. It is common in dry-zone forests of Sri Lanka. Above photographs were taken at Yala national park in June, 2015.

Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

English:Purple Heron
Binomial: Ardea purpurea
Sinhala: කරවල් කොකා[Karawal koka]

Purple Heron is a resident breeder in Sri Lanka and has a waste global distribution around the world. In Sri Lanka, it has been distributed in both dry zone and in the wet zone. But common in wet lands of dry zone. Above photosgraph was taken at Yala national park.

Sri Lanka wood pigeon (Columba torringtoniae)

English: Sri Lanka wood pigeon
Binomial: Columba torringtoniae
Sinhala: මයිලගොයා[Manilagoya]

Sri Lanka wood pigeon is an endemic species of birds found mostly in the highlands of Sri Lanka. Horton national park is a common place to observe this bird. Above photo was taken at Knuckles mountain range.

Chestnut-headed bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti)

English: Chestnut-headed bee-eater
Binomial: Merops leschenaulti
Sinhala: තඹල-හිස බිඟුහරයා[Thambala hisa binguharaya]

It is a resident breeder in many Asian countries including Sri Lanka. It is more common in dry zone of Sri Lanka. They feed on insects and have a special ability of catching insects such as bees, wasps ect in flight. Above photographs were taken in Yala national park in June, 2015.

Square-tailed Black bulbul (Hypsipetes ganeesa humii)

English: Square-tailed Black bulbul
Binomial: Hypsipetes ganeesa humii
Sinhala: කළු කොණ්ඩයා[Kalu kondaya]

Square-tailed Black bulbul is a resident breeding bird lives in forest patches of Sri Lanka. Common in wet zone. Most of the time it can be found in tree canopy with the loud unique call. Above photograph was taken at Sinharaja rain forest in February, 2015.

Eurasian spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)

English: Eurasian spoonbill
Binomial: Platalea leucorodia
Sinhala: යුරාසියා හැඳිඅලවා/Yurasiya handialawa

Eurasian spoonbill is a widely distributed bird around the world. It can be seen in shallow muddy Sri Lankan wetlands of dry zone while searching for foods. This bird can be easily identified by the spoon like beak and the white colored crest. Above photograph was taken at Yala national park in June.

Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)

English: Grey heron
Binomial: Ardea cinerea
Sinhala: අළු කොකා[Alu koka]

Grey heron is a widely distributed bird found in Asia, Europe and African countries. It is a resident breeder in Sri Lanka. Above photographs were taken at Yala national park in June, 2015.

Sri Lanka scimitar babbler (Pomatorhinus melanurus melanurus)

English: Sri Lanka scimitar babbler
Binomial Name: Pomatorhinus melanurus melanurus
Sinhala: දෑකැති දෙමලිච්චා/දෑ-දෙමලිච්චා[Dekathi demalichcha/De demalichcha]

Sri Lanka scimitar babbler is an endemic bird found in Sri Lanka. It has been distributed in all zones of the country. This bird can be observed in mixed species feeding flocks of Sinharaja. Above photograph was taken at Sri Pada, Peak Wilderness sanctuary in April.

Black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus himantopus)

English: Black-winged stilt
Binomial: Himantopus himantopus himantopus
Sinhala: කළුපිය ඉපල්ලෑවා[Kalupiya ipallewa]

Common bird found in fresh and brackish water bodies of Sri Lanka. More common in dry zone compared to wet zone. Most of the time this bird can be seen in shallow water searching for insects and crustaceans for the food. Above photographs were taken in June in Yala national park.

Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis taprobana)

Engish: Common kingfisher
Binomial: Alcedo atthis taprobana
Sinhala: මල් පිළිහුඩුවා[Mal pilihuduwa]

Common kingfisher is a bird found in lowlands and hills of Sri Lanka. It can be seen close to water. They mainly feed on aquatic animals. Above photographs were taken at Yala national park.

Grey-headed canary-flycatcher (Culicicapa ceylonensis)

English: Grey-headed canary-flycatcher
Binomial: Culicicapa ceylonensis/Platyrhynchus ceylonensis
Sinhala:අළුහිස් කහ-මැසිමාරා[Aluhis kaha-masimara]

Culicicapa ceylonensis is an insectivorous bird found in few Asian countries including Sri Lanka. 

Few sub species of this bird have been identified and the one found in Sri Lanka is C. c. ceylonensis. Its common in Sri Lankan highlands. Above bird was photographed at Hakgala botanical gardens of Sri Lanka. IUCN Red List status is 'Least Concern'.

Malabar trogon (Harpactes fasciatus)

Male

English: Malabar trogon
Binomial: Harpactes fasciatus
Sinhala: ලෝහවන්නිච්චා[Lohawannichcha]

Malabar trogon is a brightly colored bird fond in dense forest of Sri Lanka and India. Male can be identified easily by red colored underparts. Underparts of the females are not bright and orange in color. More common in wet zone. Sinharaja forest reserve is a popular place to observe this bird. They feed on insects. Forest fragmentation is the major threat for the bird.

Velvet-fronted nuthatch (Sitta frontalis)

English: Velvet-fronted nuthatch
Binomial: Sitta frontalis
Sinhala: විල්ලුද නළල් යටිකුරිත්තා[Willuda nalal yatikuriththa]

Sitta frontalis is a passerine bird found in some Asian countries including Sri Lanka. It feeds on insects and some other small creatures on stems of trees by climbing up and down while keeping the head down. Above bird was photographed in April at Hakgala Botanical Garden.

Sri Lanka Orange-billed babbler (Turdoides rufescens)

Orange Billed Babbler in 100 rupee note

English: Orange-billed babbler/Sri Lankan rufous babbler/Ceylon rufous babbler
Binomal Name: Turdoides rufescens
Sinhala: ශ්‍රී ලංකා රතු දෙමලිච්චා[Sri Lanka rathu demalichcha]

Orange-billed babbler is an endemic resident breeder of Sri Lanka. Restricted to wet zone forests. But can be seen in home gardens close to undisturbed forests. It lives in flocks and can be identified by noisy behavior. This bird is a common member of mixed species feeding flocks of Sinharaja.

Spot winged Ground Thrush (Zoothera spiloptera)

English: Spot-winged thrush/Spot winged Ground Thrush
Binomial Name: Zoothera spiloptera/Geokichla spiloptera
Sinhala: පුල්ලි වල් අවිච්චියා / ශ්‍රී ලංකා තිත්පිය තිරාසිකයා [Pulli wal awichchiya / Sri Lannka thithpiya thirasikaya]

Endemic species of bird found mainly in wet zone of Sri Lanka. Rare to find in dry zone. Feed mainly on insects and sometimes on fruits. Above photographs were taken at Sinharaja rain forest when the bird is feeding on the ground in the leaf litter.

Red-faced malkoha (Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus)

English: Red-faced malkoha
Binomial Name: Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus
Sinhala: වත රතු මල්කොහා[Watha rathu malkoha]

Red-faced malkoha is an endemic bird found in dense forests of Sri Lanka. Sinharaja Forest Reserve is considered as the popular place to observe this bird. Most of the time this bird become a member of mixed-species feeding flocks of Sinharaja forest. It is shy and can be seen in the canopy layer of the forest. This bird is listed as "vulnerable" in Red Data list. Degradation of forests become the major threat for the bird.

Sri Lanka whistling thrush (Myophonus blighi)

Male

Female

Male

Female

English: Sri Lanka whistling thrush
Binomial Name: Myophonus blighi
Sinhala: ලංකා අරංගයා/අරංගයා[Lanka arangaya/Arangaya]

An endemic resident breeder of Sri Lanka. It is found in the central hills close to jungles or inside dense forests. This species is considered as a one of the most difficult to observe bird in Sri Lanka due to its shyness, scarcity and restricted distribution. Being usually active in dawn and dusk makes it even more difficult to observe. Horton National Park and Peak Wilderness Sanctuary are said to be the best areas to observe this bird. In IUCN Red list it is listed in "Endangered" category.

Eurasian Black bird (Turdus merula kinnisii)

English: Eurasian Black bird/Indian blackbird
Binomial: Turdus merula kinnisii
Sinhala:කළු බිම්සැරියා[Kalu Bimsariya]

Widely distributed bird around the world including Indian subcontinent and Europe. Few sub species of this bird has been identified. Sub sp. T. m. kinnisii is endemic to Sri Lanka and restricted to montane zone where the elevation above the sea level is greater than 1000m. This bird can be identified by bright orange colored beak, legs and eye rings.

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.