List of birds of Sri Lanka

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Wildlife of Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka is a tropical island situated close to the southern tip of India. The bird life of Sri Lanka is very rich for its size and 521 species have been recorded. In addition to the many resident birds, a considerable number of migratory species winter in the country to escape their northern breeding grounds.

34 species are confirmed as endemic.^[1] The other resident species are also found in the nearby Indian mainland, but over 80 have developed distinct Sri Lankan races. Some of these races are very different in their plumage characteristics from the related forms in India. 26 species are globally threatened.

Bird distribution in Sri Lanka is largely determined by its climatic zones. The dry zone is largest of the three, covering more than half of the island, with a prolonged dry and hot period and only one monsoon (the north east monsoon from October to January).

The wet zone, with two monsoons, is in the south western quarter of the island, where the few remaining rain forests are found and humidity is high.

The central hill zone rises to over 2450 m (8-10,000 ft) and has a cool temperate climate. Most of the 34 endemic species are confined to the wet and the hill zones, with only a few extending into the dry zone as well.

Recent updates and sighting information can be obtained through the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka website. The following list is prepared according to An Illustrated Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka on 2010 by Sarath Kotagama and Gamini Ratnavira. Supplemental updates follow The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2021 edition.^[2][3]

The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.

• (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Sri Lanka
• (E) Endemic - a species native or restricted to Sri Lanka
• (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Sri Lanka as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl[]

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.^[4]

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Fulvous whistling-duck	Dendrocygna bicolor			Least concern (A)
Lesser whistling-duck	Dendrocygna javanica		Resident	Least concern
Bar-headed goose	Anser indicus			Least concern (A)
Graylag goose	Anser anser	Anser anser rubrirostris		Least concern (A)
Knob-billed duck	Sarkidiornis melanotos			Least concern (A)
Ruddy shelduck	Tadorna ferruginea			Least concern (A)
Cotton pygmy-goose	Nettapus coromandelianus		Resident	Least concern
Garganey	Spatula querquedula			Least concern
Northern shoveler	Spatula clypeata			Least concern
Gadwall	Mareca strepera	Mareca strepera strepera		Least concern (A)
Eurasian wigeon	Mareca penelope			Least concern
Indian spot-billed duck	Anas poecilorhyncha	Anas poecilorhyncha poecilorhyncha		Least concern
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos		Least concern (A)
Northern pintail	Anas acuta			Least concern
Green-winged teal	Anas crecca			Least concern
Marbled teal	Marmaronetta angustirostris			Vulnerable (A)
Red-crested pochard	Netta rufina			Least concern (A)
Common pochard	Aythya ferina			Vulnerable (A)
Tufted duck	Aythya fuligula			Least concern (A)

Pheasants, grouse, and allies[]

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds. In general, they are plump and have broad, relatively short wings.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Indian peafowl	Pavo cristatus	Pavo cristatus singhalensis	Resident	Least concern
Sri Lanka spurfowl	Galloperdix bicalcarata		Endemic	Least concern
Blue-breasted quail	Coturnix chinensis	Coturnix chinensis chinensis		Least concern
Common quail	Coturnix coturnix			Least concern (A)
Rain quail	Coturnix coromandelica	Francolinus pondicerianus pondicerianus		Least concern (A)
Jungle bush-quail	Perdicula asiatica			Least concern
Painted francolin	Francolinus pictus			Least concern
Gray francolin	Ortygornis pondicerianus	Ortygornis pondicerianus pondicerianus		Least concern
Sri Lanka junglefowl	Gallus lafayettii		Endemic	Least concern

Flamingos[]

Order: Phoenicopteriformes   Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Greater flamingo	Phoenicopterus ruber			Least concern
Lesser flamingo	Phoenicopterus minor			Near threatened (A)

Grebes[]

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-sized diving birds. They breed on fresh water, but often visit the sea whilst migrating and in winter. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers; however, their feet are placed far back on their bodies, making them quite ungainly on land.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Little grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis	Tachybaptus ruficollis capensis	Resident	Least concern

Pigeons and doves[]

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Rock pigeon	Columba livia	Columba livia intermedia	Resident	Least concern
Sri Lanka wood-pigeon	Columba torringtoniae		Endemic	Vulnerable
Pale-capped pigeon	Columba punicea			Vulnerable (A)
Oriental turtle-dove	Streptopelia orientalis			Least concern
Eurasian collared-dove	Streptopelia decaocto	Streptopelia decaocto intercedens		Least concern
Red collared-dove	Streptopelia tranquebarica			Least concern (A)
Spotted dove	Spilopelia chinensis	Spilopelia chinensis ceylonensis		Least concern
Asian emerald dove	Chalcophaps indica	Chalcophaps indica robinsoni		Least concern
Orange-breasted green-pigeon	Treron bicincta	Treron bicincta leggei		Least concern
Sri Lanka green-pigeon	Treron pompadora		Endemic	Least concern
Yellow-footed green-pigeon	Treron phoenicoptera			Least concern
Green imperial-pigeon	Ducula aenea			Least concern

Cuckoos[]

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. Many are brood parasites.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Green-billed coucal	Centropus chlororhynchus		Endemic	Vulnerable
Greater coucal	Centropus sinensis			Least concern (A)
Lesser coucal	Centropus bengalensis			Least concern (A)
Sirkeer malkoha	Taccocua leschenaultii			Least concern
Red-faced malkoha	Phaenicophaeus pyffhocephalus		Endemic	Vulnerable
Blue-faced malkoha	Phaenicophaeus viridirostris			Least concern
Chestnut-winged cuckoo	Clamator coromandus			Least concern
Pied cuckoo	Clamator jacobinus	Clamator jacobinus jacobinus		Least concern
Asian koel	Eudynamys scolopacea	Eudynamys scolopacea scolopacea		Least concern
Asian emerald cuckoo	Chrysococcyx maculatus			Least concern (A)
Banded bay cuckoo	Cacomantis sonneratii	Cacomantis sonneratii waiti		Least concern
Gray-bellied cuckoo	Cacomantis passerinus			Least concern
Fork-tailed drongo-cuckoo	Surniculus dicruroides			Least concern
Common hawk-cuckoo	Hierococcyx varius			Least concern
Lesser cuckoo	Cuculus poliocephalus			Least concern
Indian cuckoo	Cuculus micropterus			Least concern
Common cuckoo	Cuculus canorus	Cuculus canorus bakeri		Least concern

Frogmouths[]

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Podargidae

The frogmouths are a group of nocturnal birds related to the nightjars. They are named for their large flattened hooked bill and huge frog-like gape, which they use to take insects.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Sri Lanka frogmouth	Batrachostomus moniliger		Resident	Least concern

Nightjars and allies[]

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Great eared-nightjar	Lyncornis macrotis			Least concern (A)
Jungle nightjar	Caprimulgus indicus	Caprimulgus indicus kelaarti	Resident	Least concern
Jerdon's nightjar	Caprimulgus atripennis	Caprimulgus atripennis aequabilis	Resident	Least concern
Indian nightjar	Caprimulgus asiaticus		Resident	Least concern

Swifts[]

Order: Apodiformes/Caprimulgiformes   Family: Apodidae

Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
White-throated needletail	Hirundapus caudacutus			Least concern (A)
Brown-backed needletail	Hirundapus giganteus			Least concern
Indian swiftlet	Aerodramus unicolor			Least concern
Himalayan swiftlet	Aerodramus brevirostris			Least concern (A)
Alpine swift	Apus melba			Least concern
Common swift	Apus apus			Least concern (A)
Pallid swift	Apus pallidus			Least concern (A)
Blyth's swift	Apus leuconyx			Least concern (A)
Dark-rumped swift	Apus acuticauda			Vulnerable (A)
Little swift	Apus affinis			Least concern
Asian palm-swift	Cypsiurus balasiensis			Least concern

Treeswifts[]

Order: Apodiformes/Caprimulgiformes    Family: Hemiprocnidae

The treeswifts, or crested swifts, are closely related to the true swifts. They differ from the other swifts in that they have crests, long forked tails and softer plumage.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Crested treeswift	Hemiprocne coronata		Resident	Least concern

Rails, gallinules, and coots[]

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Water rail	Rallus aquaticus	Rallus aquaticus korejewi		Least concern (A)
Brown-cheeked rail	Rallus indicus			Least concern (A)
Corn crake	Crex crex			Least concern (A)
Slaty-breasted rail	Lewinia striata			Least concern
Eurasian moorhen	Gallinula chloropus	Eurasian common moorhen Gallinula chloropus chloropus		Least concern
Eurasian coot	Fulica atra			Least concern
Gray-headed swamphen	Porphyrio poliocephalus			Least concern
Watercock	Gallicrex cinerea			Least concern
White-breasted waterhen	Amaurornis phoenicurus	Amaurornis phoenicurus phoenicurus		Least concern
Slaty-legged crake	Rallina eurizonoides			Least concern
Ruddy-breasted crake	Zapornia fusca			Least concern
Baillon's crake	Zapornia pusilla			Least concern

Thick-knees[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

Thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Indian thick-knee	Burhinus indicus		Resident	Least concern
Great thick-knee	Esacus recurvirostris		Resident	Least concern

Stilts and avocets[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Black-winged stilt	Himantopus himantopus	Himantopus himantopus meridionalis	Resident	Least concern
Pied stilt	Himantopus leucocephalus			Least concern
Pied avocet	Recurvirostra avosetta		Resident	Least concern

Oystercatchers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Eurasian oystercatcher	Haematopus ostralegus			Near threatened

Plovers and lapwings[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Black-bellied plover	Pluvialis squatarola			Least concern
Pacific golden-plover	Pluvialis fulva			Least concern
Yellow-wattled lapwing	Vanellus malabaricus			Least concern
Gray-headed lapwing	Vanellus cinereus			Least concern (A)
Red-wattled lapwing	Vanellus indicus	Vanellus indicus lankae		Least concern
Sociable lapwing	Chettusia gregarius			Critically endangered (A)
Lesser sand-plover	Charadrius mongolus			Least concern
Greater sand-plover	Charadrius leschenaultii			Least concern
Caspian plover	Charadrius asiaticus			Least concern (A)
Kentish plover	Charadrius alexandrinus			Least concern
Common ringed plover	Charadrius hiaticula	Charadrius hiaticula tundrae		Least concern
Long-billed plover	Charadrius placidus			Least concern (A)
Little ringed plover	Charadrius dubius			Least concern
Oriental plover	Charadrius veredus			Least concern (A)

Painted-snipes[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Rostratulidae

Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Greater painted-snipe	Rostratula benghalensis			Least concern

Jacanas[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found throughout the tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Pheasant-tailed jacana	Hydrophasianus chirurgus			Least concern

Sandpipers and allies[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus			Least Concern
Little curlew	Numenius minutus			Least Concern (A)
Slender-billed curlew	Numenius tenuirostris			Critically Endangered (A)
Eurasian curlew	Numenius arquata			Near Threatened
Bar-tailed godwit	Limosa lapponica			Near Threatened
Black-tailed godwit	Limosa limosa			Near Threatened
Ruddy turnstone	Arenaria interpres			Least Concern
Great knot	Calidris tenuirostris			Endangered
Red knot	Calidris canutus			Near Threatened
Ruff	Calidris pugnax			Least Concern
Broad-billed sandpiper	Calidris falcinellus			Least Concern
Sharp-tailed sandpiper	Calidris acuminata			Least Concern (A)
Curlew sandpiper	Calidris ferruginea			Near Threatened
Temminck's stint	Calidris temminckii			Least Concern
Long-toed stint	Calidris subminuta			Least Concern
Spoon-billed sandpiper	Calidris pygmeus			Critically Endangered (A)
Red-necked stint	Calidris ruficollis			Near Threatened (A)
Sanderling	Calidris alba			Least Concern
Dunlin	Calidris alpina			Least Concern (A)
Little stint	Calidris minuta			Least Concern
White-rumped sandpiper	Calidris fuscicollis			Least Concern (A)
Buff-breasted sandpiper	Calidris subruficollis			Near Threatened (A)
Pectoral sandpiper	Calidris melanotos			Least Concern (A)
Asian dowitcher	Limnodramus semipalmatus			Near Threatened (A)
Jack snipe	Lymnocryptes minimus			Least Concern (A)
Eurasian woodcock	Scolopax rusticola			Least Concern
Wood snipe	Gallinago nemoricola			Vulnerable (A)
Great snipe	Gallinago media			Near Threatened (A)
Common snipe	Gallinago gallinago			Least Concern
Pin-tailed snipe	Gallinago stenura			Least Concern
Swinhoe's snipe	Gallinago megala			Least Concern (A)
Terek sandpiper	Xenus cinereus			Least Concern
Wilson's phalarope	Phalaropus tricolor			Least Concern (A)
Red-necked phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus			Least Concern
Red phalarope	Phalaropus fulicarius			Least Concern (A)
Common sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos			Least Concern
Spotted sandpiper	Actitis macularius			Least Concern (A)
Green sandpiper	Tringa ochropus			Least Concern
Solitary sandpiper	Tringa solitaria			Least Concern (A)
Spotted redshank	Tringa erythropus			Least Concern (A)
Common greenshank	Tringa nebularia			Least Concern
Nordmann's greenshank	Tringa guttifer			Endangered (A)
Marsh sandpiper	Tringa stagnatilis			Least Concern
Wood sandpiper	Tringa glareola			Least Concern
Common redshank	Tringa totanus			Least Concern

Buttonquail[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Turnicidae

The buttonquail are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Small buttonquail	Turnix sylvaticus			Least concern (A)
Barred buttonquail	Turnix sylvatica			Least concern

Crab-plover[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Dromadidae

The crab-plover is related to the waders. It resembles a plover but with very long grey legs and a strong heavy black bill similar to a tern. It has black-and-white plumage, a long neck, partially webbed feet and a bill designed for eating crabs.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Crab-plover	Dromas ardeola			Least concern

Pratincoles and coursers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Indian courser	Cursorius coromandelicus			Least concern
Collared pratincole	Glareola pratincola			Least concern
Oriental pratincole	Glareola maldivarum			Least concern
Small pratincole	Glareola lactea			Least concern

Skuas and jaegers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
South polar skua	Catharacta maccormicki			Least concern (A)
Brown skua	Catharacta antarctica			Least concern
Pomarine jaeger	Stercorarius pomarinus			Least concern
Parasitic jaeger	Stercorarius parasiticus			Least concern (A)
Long-tailed jaeger	Stercorarius longicaudus			Least concern (A)

Gulls, terns, and skimmers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls and terns. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.

• Slender-billed gull, Chroicocephalus genei (A)
• Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
• Brown-headed gull, Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus
• Sooty gull, Ichthyaetus hemprichii (A)
• Pallas's gull, Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus
• Herring gull, Larus argentatus
• Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
• Brown noddy, Anous stolidus
• Black noddy, Anous minutus (A)
• Lesser noddy, Anous tenuirostris
• Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscatus
• Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus
• Little tern, Sternula albifrons
• Saunders's tern, Sternula saundersi
• Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica
• Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
• Black tern, Chlidonias niger (A)
• White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus
• Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida
• Roseate tern, Sterna dougalli
• Black-naped tern, Sterna sumatrana (A)
• Common tern, Sterna hirundo
• White-cheeked tern, Sterna repressa (A)
• Great crested tern, Thalasseus bergii
• Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis
• Lesser crested tern, Thalasseus bengalensis
• White tern, Gygis alba (A)

Tropicbirds[]

Order: Phaethontiformes   Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.^[5]

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
White-tailed tropicbird	Phaethon lepturus	Phaethon lepturus lepturus		Least concern
Red-billed tropicbird	Phaethon aethereus			Least concern

Southern storm-petrels[]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae

Southern storm-petrels are small birds which spend most of their lives at sea, coming ashore only to breed. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering or pattering across the water. Their flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.^[6]

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Wilson's storm-petrel	Oceanites oceanicus			Least concern
White-faced storm-petrel	Pelagodroma marina			Least concern
Black-bellied storm-petrel	Fregetta tropica			Least concern (A)

Northern storm-petrels[]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

Northern storm-petrels are small birds which spend most of their lives at sea, coming ashore only to breed. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering or pattering across the water. Their flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.^[6]

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Swinhoe's storm-petrel	Hydrobates monorhis			Near threatened (A)

Shearwaters and petrels[]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.^[6]

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Cape petrel	Daption capense	Daption capense capense	Migrant	Least concern (A)
Soft-plumaged petrel	Pterodroma mollis			Least concern (A)
Barau's petrel	Pterodroma baraui			Endangered (A)
White-headed petrel	Pterodroma lessonii			Least concern (A)
Bulwer's petrel	Bulweria bulwerii			Least concern (A)
Jouanin's petrel	Bulweria fallax			Near threatened (A)
Streaked shearwater	Calonectris leucomelas			Near threatened (A)
Flesh-footed shearwater	Ardenna cameipes			Near threatened
Wedge-tailed shearwater	Ardenna pacificus			Least concern
Sooty shearwater	Ardenna griseus			Near threatened (A)
Short-tailed shearwater	Ardenna tenuirostris			Least concern (A)
Tropical shearwater	Puffinus bailloni			Least concern (A)
Persian shearwater	Puffinus persicus			Least concern

Storks[]

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are virtually mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.^[7]

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Asian openbill	Anastomus oscitans		Resident	Least concern
Black stork	Ciconia nigra			Least concern (A)
Woolly-necked stork	Ciconia episcopus	Ciconia episcopus episcopus	Resident	Vulnerable
White stork	Ciconia ciconia	Ciconia ciconia asiatica		Least concern (A)
Black-necked stork	Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus	Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus asiaticus	Resident[8]	Near threatened
Lesser adjutant	Leptoptilos javanicus		Resident	Vulnerable
Painted stork	Mycteria leucocephala		Resident	Near threatened

Frigatebirds[]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black and white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.^[5] None are resident.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Lesser frigatebird	Fregata ariel	Fregata ariel ariel		Least concern (A)
Christmas Island frigatebird	Fregata andrewsi			Critically endangered (A)
Great frigatebird	Fregata minor	Fregata minor minor		Least concern (A)

Boobies and gannets[]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

The gannets and boobies in the family Sulidae are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.^[5]

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Masked booby	Sula dactylatra	Sula dactylatra melanops		Least concern
Brown booby	Sula leucogaster	Sula leucogaster plotus		Least concern
Red-footed booby	Sula sula	Sula sula rubripes		Least concern

Anhingas[]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Anhingidae

Anhingas or darters are often called "snake-birds" because they have long thin necks, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark-brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape, and a larger bill than the female. The females have much paler plumage, especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving.^[5]

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Oriental darter	Anhinga melanogaster		Resident[9]	Near threatened

Cormorants and shags[]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies; the majority of species have mainly dark plumage, but some are pied black and white, and a few are more colourful.^[5]

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Little cormorant	Microcarbo niger		Resident	Least concern
Great cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo	Phalacrocorax carbo carbo	Resident	Least concern
Indian cormorant	Phalacrocorax fuscicollis		Resident	Least concern

Pelicans[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.^[5]

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Great white pelican	Pelecanus onocrotalus			Least concern (A)
Spot-billed pelican	Pelecanus philippensis		Resident.[10]	Near threatened
Dalmatian pelican	Pelecanus crispus			Near threatened (A)

Herons, egrets, and bitterns[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills, members of this family fly with their necks retracted.^[7]

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Great bittern	Botaurus stellaris	Botaurus stellaris stellaris		Least concern (A)
Yellow bittern	Ixobrychus sinensis		Resident	Least concern
Schrenck's bittern	Ixobrychus eurhythmus			Least concern (A)
Cinnamon bittern	Ixobrychus cinnamomeus		Resident	Least concern
Black bittern	Ixobrychus flavicollis		Resident	Least concern
Gray heron	Ardea cinerea	Ardea cinerea cinerea	Resident	Least concern
Goliath heron	Ardea goliath			Least concern (A)
Purple heron	Ardea purpurea	Ardea purpurea manilensis	Resident	Least concern
Great egret	Ardea alba	Eastern great egret Ardea alba modesta	Resident	Least concern
Intermediate egret	Ardea intermedia		Resident	Least concern
Little egret	Egretta garzetta	Egretta garzetta garzetta	Resident	Least concern
Western reef-heron	Egretta gularis		Resident.[11]	Least concern
Cattle egret	Bubulcus ibis	Bubulcus ibis coromandus	Resident	Least concern
Indian pond-heron	Ardeola grayii		Resident	Least concern
Chinese pond-heron	Ardeola bacchus			Least concern (A)
Striated heron	Butorides striata		Resident	Least concern
Black-crowned night-heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax	Resident	Least concern
Malayan night-heron	Gorsachius melanolophus			Least concern

Ibises and spoonbills[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which comprises the ibises and spoonbills. Its members have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary flight feathers. They are strong fliers and, despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.^[7]

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Glossy ibis	Plegadis falcinellus			Least concern
Black-headed ibis	Threskiornis melanocephalus		Resident.[12]	Near threatened
Red-naped ibis	Pseudibis papillosa			Least concern (A)
Eurasian spoonbill	Platalea leucorodia	Platalea leucorodia leucorodia	Resident.[13]	Least concern

Osprey[]

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus		Resident	Least concern

Hawks, eagles, and kites[]

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Black-winged kite	Elanus caeruleus	Elanus caeruleus vociferus		Least concern
Egyptian vulture	Neophron percnopterus	Neophron percnopterus ginginiatus		Endangered (A)
European honey-buzzard	Pernis apivorus			Least concern (A)
Oriental honey-buzzard	Pernis ptilorhynchus			Least concern
Jerdon's baza	Aviceda jerdoni	Aviceda jerdoni ceylonensis		Least concern
Black baza	Aviceda leuphotes			Least concern
Crested serpent-eagle	Spilornis cheela	Spilornis cheela spilogaster		Least concern
Changeable hawk-eagle	Nisaetus cirrhatus	Nisaetus cirrhatus ceylanensis		Least concern
Legge's hawk-eagle	Nisaetus kelaarti			Not Evaluated
Rufous-bellied eagle	Lophotriorchis kieneri			Least concern
Black eagle	Ictinaetus malaiensis			Least concern
Greater spotted eagle	Clanga clanga			Vulnerable (A)
Booted eagle	Hieraaetus pennatus			Least concern
Bonelli's eagle	Aquila fasciata			Least concern (A)
Eurasian marsh-harrier	Circus aeruginosus			Least concern
Pallid harrier	Circus macrourus			Near threatened
Pied harrier	Circus melanoleucos			Least concern (A)
Montagu's harrier	Circus pygargus			Least concern
Crested goshawk	Accipiter trivirgatus			Least concern
Shikra	Accipiter badius			Least concern
Besra	Accipiter virgatus			Least concern
Eurasian sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus			Least concern (A)
Black kite	Milvus migrans	Milvus migrans govinda		Least concern
Brahminy kite	Haliastur indus	Haliastur indus indus		Least concern
White-bellied sea-eagle	Haliaeetus leucogaster			Least concern
Gray-headed fish-eagle	Haliaeetus ichthyaetus			Least concern
Common buzzard	Buteo buteo	Buteo buteo buteo		Least concern
Himalayan buzzard	Buteo refectus			Least concern
Eastern buzzard	Buteo japonicus			Least concern
Long-legged buzzard	Buteo rufinus	Buteo rufinus rufinus		Least concern (A)

Barn owls[]

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Barn owl	Tyto alba	Tyto alba stertens	Resident	Least concern
Sri Lanka bay-owl	Phodilus assimilis	Phodilus assimilis assimilis	Resident	Least concern

Owls[]

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Serendib scops-owl	Otus thilohoffmanni		Endemic	Endangered
Indian scops-owl	Otus bakkamoena		Resident	Least concern
Oriental scops-owl	Otus sunia		Resident	Least concern
Spot-bellied eagle-owl	Bubo nipalensis		Resident	Least concern
Brown fish-owl	Ketupa zeylonensis	Sri Lankan brown fish owl Ketupa zeylonensis zeylonensis	Resident	Least concern
Jungle owlet	Glaucidium radiatum		Resident	Least concern
Chestnut-backed owlet	Glaucidium castanotum		Endemic	Least concern
Brown wood-owl	Strix leptogrammica		Resident	Least concern
Brown hawk-owl	Ninox scutulata		Resident	Least concern
Short-eared owl	Asio flammeus	Asio flammeus flammeus	Vagrant	Least concern

Trogons[]

Order: Trogoniformes   Family: Trogonidae

The family Trogonidae includes trogons and quetzals. Found in tropical woodlands worldwide, they feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. Trogons have soft, often colourful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Malabar trogon	Harpactes fasciatus		Resident	Least concern

Hoopoes[]

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Eurasian hoopoe	Upupa epops	Upupa epops ceylonensis	Resident	Least concern

Hornbills[]

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Bucerotidae

Hornbills are a group of birds whose bill is shaped like a cow's horn, but without a twist, sometimes with a casque on the upper mandible. Frequently, the bill is brightly coloured.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Sri Lanka gray hornbill	Ocyceros gingalensis		Endemic	Least concern
Malabar pied hornbill	Anthracoceros coronatus		Resident	Least concern

Kingfishers[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Common kingfisher	Alcedo atthis	Alcedo atthis taprobana	Resident	Least concern
Blue-eared kingfisher	Alcedo meninting	Alcedo meninting phillipsi	Resident	Least concern
Black-backed dwarf-kingfisher	Ceyx erithaca		Resident	Least concern
Stork-billed kingfisher	Pelargopsis capensis	Pelargopsis capensis capensis	Resident	Least concern
White-throated kingfisher	Halcyon smyrnensis	Halcyon smyrnensis fusca	Resident	Least concern
Black-capped kingfisher	Halcyon pileata		Resident	Least concern
Pied kingfisher	Ceryle rudis	Ceryle rudis leucomelanura	Resident	Least concern

Bee-eaters[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Green bee-eater	Merops orientalis	• Merops orientalis orientalis • Merops orientalis ceylonicus	Resident	Least concern
Blue-tailed bee-eater	Merops philippinus		Resident	Least concern
European bee-eater	Merops apiaster		Resident	Least concern
Chestnut-headed bee-eater	Merops leschenaulti		Resident	Least concern

Rollers[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
European roller	Coracias garrulus			Least concern (A)
Indian roller	Coracias benghalensis	Coracias benghalensis indicus	Resident	Least concern
Dollarbird	Eurystomus orientalis	Eurystomus orientalis irisi	Resident	Least concern

Asian barbets[]

Order: Piciformes   Family: Megalaimidae

The Asian barbets are plump birds, with short necks and large heads. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. Most species are brightly coloured.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Crimson-fronted barbet	Psilopogon rubricapillus		Endemic	Least concern
Coppersmith barbet	Psilopogon haemacephalus	Psilopogon haemacephalus indica	Resident	Least concern
Brown-headed barbet	Psilopogon zeylanicus		Resident	Least concern
Yellow-fronted barbet	Psilopogon flavilfrons		Endemic	Least concern

Woodpeckers[]

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Eurasian Wryneck	Jynx torquilla			Least concern (A)
Brown-capped pygmy woodpecker	Yungipicus nanus			Least concern
Yellow-crowned woodpecker	Leiopicus mahrattensis			Least concern
Crimson-backed flameback	Chrysocolaptes stricklandi		Endemic.	Least concern
White-naped woodpecker	Chrysocolaptes festivus			Least concern
Rufous woodpecker	Micropternus brachyurus			Least concern
Black-rumped flameback	Dinopium benghalense • Dinopium benghalense jaffnense		Resident.	Least concern
Red-backed flameback	Dinopium psarodes		Endemic.	Least concern
Lesser yellownape	Picus chlorolophus	Picus chlorolophus wellsi		Least concern
Streak-throated woodpecker	Picus xanthopygaeus			Least concern

Falcons and caracaras[]

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Black-thighed falconet	Microhierax fringillarius			Least concern (A)
Lesser kestrel	Falco naumanni			Least concern (A)
Eurasian kestrel	Falco tinnunculus	Falco tinnunculus tinnunculus	Resident	Least concern
Red-necked falcon	Falco chicquera			Near threatened (A)
Amur falcon	Falco amurensis			Least concern (A)
Eurasian hobby	Falco subbuteo			Least concern (A)
Oriental hobby	Falco severus			Least concern (A)
Peregrine falcon	Falco peregrinus	• Shaheen falcon Falco peregrinus peregrinator[14] • Eastern peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus calidus		Least concern

Old World parrots[]

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly coloured, and some are multi-coloured. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Alexandrine parakeet	Psittacula eupatria	Psittacula eupatria eupatria	Resident	Near threatened
Rose-ringed parakeet	Psittacula krameri	Psittacula krameri manillensis	Resident	Least concern
Plum-headed parakeet	Psittacula cyanocephala	Psittacula cyanocephala cyanocephala	Resident	Least concern
Layard's parakeet	Psittacula calthrapae		Endemic	Least concern
Sri Lanka hanging-parrot	Loriculus beryllinus		Endemic	Least concern

Pittas[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pittidae

Pittas are medium-sized by passerine standards and are stocky, with fairly long, strong legs, short tails and stout bills. Many are brightly coloured. They spend the majority of their time on wet forest floors, eating snails, insects and similar invertebrates.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Indian pitta	Pitta brachyura		Migrant	Least concern

Cuckooshrikes[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Campephagidae

The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Small minivet	Pericrocotus cinnamomeus	Pericrocotus cinnamomeus malabaricus		Least concern
Orange minivet	Pericrocotus flammeus			Least concern
Large cuckooshrike	Coracina macei			Least concern
Black-headed cuckooshrike	Lalage melanoptera			Least concern
Indochinese cuckooshrike	Lalage polioptera			Least concern (A)

Old World orioles[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Eurasian golden oriole	Oriolus oriolus			Least concern (A)
Indian golden oriole	Oriolus kundoo			Least concern
Black-naped oriole	Oriolus chinensis	Oriolus chinensis diffusus		Least concern (A)
Slender-billed oriole	Oriolus tenuirostris			Least concern (A)
Black-hooded oriole	Oriolus xanthornus	Oriolus xanthornus ceylonensis	Resident	Least concern

Woodswallows, bellmagpies, and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Artamidae

The woodswallows are soft-plumaged, somber-coloured passerine birds. They are smooth, agile flyers with moderately large, semi-triangular wings.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Ashy woodswallow	Artamus fuscus		Resident	Least concern

Vangas, helmetshrikes, and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vangidae

The Vangidae comprises a group of often shrike-like medium-sized birds distributed from Asia to Africa. Many species in this family were previously classified elsewhere in other families.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Sri Lanka woodshrike	Tephrodornis affinis		Endemic	Least concern
Bar-winged flycatcher-shrike	Hemipus picatus	Hemipus picatus leggei	Resident	Least concern

Ioras[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Aegithinidae

The ioras are bulbul-like birds of open forest or thorn scrub, but whereas that group tends to be drab in colouration, ioras are sexually dimorphic, with the males being brightly plumaged in yellows and greens.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Common iora	Aegithina tiphia		Resident	Least concern
White-tailed iora	Aegithina nigrolutea			Least concern

Fantails[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Rhipiduridae

The fantails are small insectivorous birds which are specialist aerial feeders.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
White-browed fantail	Rhipidura aureola			Least concern

Drongos[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicruridae

The drongos are mostly black or dark grey in colour, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Black drongo	Dicrurus macrocercus			Least concern
Ashy drongo	Dicrurus leucophaeus			Least concern
White-bellied drongo	Dicrurus caerulescens	Dicrurus caerulescens leucopygialis		Least concern
Greater racket-tailed drongo	Dicrurus paradiseus	Dicrurus paradiseus ceylonicus		Least concern
Sri Lanka drongo	Dicrurus lophorinus		Endemic	Least concern

Monarch flycatchers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Black-naped monarch	Hypothymis azurea	Hypothymis azurea ceylonensis		Least concern
Indian paradise flycatcher	Terpsiphone paradisi	• Ceylon paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis • Indian paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi paradisi • Himalayan paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi leucogaster	Resident, Migrant	Least concern

Shrikes[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Red-backed shrike	Lanius collurio			Least concern (A)
Brown shrike	Lanius cristatus	Lanius cristatus cristatus		Least concern
Bay-backed shrike	Lanius vittatus			Least concern (A)
Long-tailed shrike	Lanius schach	Lanius schach caniceps		Least concern
Great gray shrike	Lanius excubitor			Least concern (A)

Crows, jays, and magpies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Sri Lanka blue-magpie	Urocissa ornata		Endemic	Vulnerable
House crow	Corvus splendens	Corvus splendens protegatus	Resident	Least concern
Large-billed crow	Corvus macrorhynchos		Resident	Least concern

Fairy flycatchers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Stenostiridae

Most of the species of this small family are found in Africa, though a few inhabit tropical Asia. They are not closely related to other birds called "flycatchers".

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Gray-headed canary-flycatcher	Culicicapa ceylonensis	Culicicapa ceylonensis ceylonensis		Least concern

Tits, chickadees, and titmice[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Cinereous tit	Parus cinereus	Parus cinereus mahrattarum	Resident	Least concern

Larks[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Ashy-crowned sparrow-lark	Eremopterix griseus	Eremopterix griseus ceylonensis		Least concern
Jerdon's bushlark	Mirafra affinis			Least concern
Greater short-toed lark	Calandrella brachydactyla			Least concern (A)
Mongolian short-toed lark	Calandrella dukhunensis			Least concern (A)
Oriental skylark	Alauda gulgula	Alauda gulgula gulgula		Least concern

Cisticolas and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cisticolidae

The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Common tailorbird	Orthotomus sutorius	• Highland common tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius fernandonis • Lowland common tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius sutorius	Resident	Least concern
Rufescent prinia	Prinia rufescens			Least concern (A)
Gray-breasted prinia	Prinia hodgsonii	Prinia hodgsonii pectoralis		Least concern
Jungle prinia	Prinia sylvatica			Least concern
Ashy prinia	Prinia socialis	Prinia socialis brevicauda		Least concern
Plain prinia	Prinia inornata			Least concern
Zitting cisticola	Cisticola juncidis	Cisticola juncidis cursitans		Least concern

Reed warblers and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Booted warbler	Iduna caligata			Least concern (A)
Sykes's warbler	Iduna rama			Least concern (A)
Black-browed reed warbler	Acrocephalus bistrigiceps			Least concern (A)
Blyth's reed warbler	Acrocephalus dumetorum		Resident	Least concern
Clamorous reed warbler	Acrocephalus stentoreus	Acrocephalus stentoreus meridionalis		Least concern

Grassbirds and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Broad-tailed grassbird	Schoenicola platyura			Vulnerable (A)
Pallas's grasshopper warbler	Helopsaltes certhiola			Least concern
Lanceolated warbler	Locustella lanceolata			Least concern (A)
Common grasshopper-warbler	Locustella naevia			Least concern (A)
Sri Lanka bush warbler	Elaphrornis palliseri		Endemic	Near threatened

Swallows[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Bank swallow	Riparia riparia			Least concern
Pale sand martin	Riparia diluta			Least concern (A)
Rock martin	Ptyonoprogne fuligula			Least concern (A)
Dusky crag-martin	Ptyonoprogne concolor			Least concern (A)
Barn swallow	Hirundo rustica	Hirundo rustica rustica		Least concern
Wire-tailed swallow	Hirundo smithii	Hirundo smithii filifera		Least concern (A)
Hill swallow	Hirundo domicola			Least concern
Red-rumped swallow	Cecropis daurica			Least concern
Sri Lanka swallow	Cecropis hyperythra		Endemic	Least concern
Streak-throated swallow	Petrochelidon fluvicola			Least concern (A)
Common house-martin	Delichon urbicum			Least concern (A)
Asian house-martin	Delichon dasypus			Least concern (A)

Bulbuls[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pycnonotidae

Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Black-capped bulbul	Rubigula melanicterus		Endemic	Least concern
Red-vented bulbul	Pycnonotus cafer	Pycnonotus cafer haemorrhousus	Resident	Least concern
Yellow-eared bulbul	Pycnonotus pennicilitatus		Endemic	Near threatened
White-browed bulbul	Pycnonotus luteolus	Pycnonotus luteolus insulae		Least concern
Yellow-browed bulbul	Iole indica	Iole indica guglielmi		Least concern
Square-tailed bulbul	Hypsipetes ganeesa	Sri Lanka black bulbul Hypsipetes ganeesa humii		Least concern

Leaf warblers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with greyish-green to greyish-brown colours.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Dusky warbler	Phylloscopus fuscatus			Least concern (A)
Green-crowned warbler	Phylloscopus burkii			Least concern (A)
Green warbler	Phylloscopus nitidus			Least concern
Greenish warbler	Phylloscopus trochiloides			Least concern (A)
Large-billed leaf warbler	Phylloscopus magnirostris			Least concern
Western crowned warbler	Phylloscopus occipitalis			Least concern (A)

Bush warblers and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Scotocercidae

The members of this family are found throughout Africa, Asia, and Polynesia. Their taxonomy is in flux, and some authorities place some genera in other families.^[15]

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Pale-footed bush warbler	Urosphena pallidipes			Least concern (A)

Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae

The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Many species are difficult to identify by appearance, but many have distinctive songs.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Lesser whitethroat	Curruca curruca	Curruca curruca blythi	Resident	Least concern
Yellow-eyed babbler	Chrysomma sinense		Resident	Least concern

White-eyes, yuhinas, and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Zosteropidae

The white-eyes are small and mostly undistinguished, their plumage above being generally some dull colour like greenish-olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. As their name suggests, many species have a white ring around each eye.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Sri Lanka white-eye	Zosterops ceylonensis		Endemic	Least concern
Indian white-eye	Zosterops palpebrosa		Resident	Least concern

Tree-babblers, scimitar-babblers, and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Timaliidae

The babblers, or timaliids, are somewhat diverse in size and colouration, but are characterised by soft fluffy plumage.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Tawny-bellied babbler	Dumetia hyperythra	Dumetia hyperythra phillipsi	Endemic	Least concern
Dark-fronted babbler	Dumetia atriceps	• Dryzone dark-fronted babbler Rhopocichla atriceps siccata • Wetzone dark-fronted babbler Rhopocichla atriceps nigrifrons		Least concern
Sri Lanka scimitar-babbler	Pomatorhinus melanurus		Endemic	Least concern

Ground babblers and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pellorneidae

These small to medium-sized songbirds have soft fluffy plumage but are otherwise rather diverse. Members of the genus Illadopsis are found in forests, but some other genera are birds of scrublands.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Brown-capped babbler	Pellorneum fuscocapillum		Endemic	Least concern

Laughingthrushes and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Leiothrichidae

The members of this family are diverse in size and colouration, though those of genus Argya tend to be brown or greyish. The family is found in Africa, India, and southeast Asia.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Orange-billed babbler	Argya rufescens		Endemic	Near threatened
Yellow-billed babbler	Argya affinis	Argya affinis taprobanus	Resident	Least concern
Ashy-headed laughingthrush	Argya cinereifrons		Endemic	Vulnerable

Nuthatches[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sittidae

Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails and powerful bills and feet.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Velvet-fronted nuthatch	Sitta frontalis		Resident	Least concern

Starlings[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Sri Lanka myna	Gracula ptilogenys		Endemic	Near threatened
Southern hill myna	Gracula indica		Resident	Least concern
European starling	Sturnus vulgaris			Least concern (A)
Rosy starling	Pastor roseus			Least concern
Daurian starling	Agropsar sturninus			Least concern (A)
Asian pied starling	Gracupica contra			Least concern (A)
White-faced starling	Sturnornis albofrontatus		Endemic	Vulnerable
Brahminy starling	Sturnia pagodarum			Least concern
Chestnut-tailed starling	Sturnia malabarica	Sturnia malabarica malabarica		Least concern (A)
Common myna	Acridotheres tristis	• Acridotheres tristis tristis • Acridotheres tristis melanosternus	Resident	Least concern

Thrushes and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Sri Lanka thrush	Zoothera imbricata		Endemic	Near threatened
Pied thrush	Geokichla wardii			Least concern
Spot-winged thrush	Geokichla spiloptera		Endemic	Near threatened
Orange-headed thrush	Geokichla citrina	Geokichla citrina citrina		Least concern
Indian blackbird	Turdus simillimus	Turdus simillimus kinnisii	Resident	Least concern
Eyebrowed thrush	Turdus obscurus			Least concern (A)

Old World flycatchers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Asian brown flycatcher	Muscicapa dauurica			Least concern
Brown-breasted flycatcher	Muscicapa muttui			Least concern
Spotted flycatcher	Muscicapa striata			Least concern (A)
Rufous-tailed scrub-robin	Cercotrichas galactotes			Least concern (A)
Indian robin	Copsychus fulicatus	Copsychus fulicatus leucopterus	Resident	Least concern
Oriental magpie-robin	Copsychus saularis	Copsychus saularis saularis	Resident	Least concern
White-rumped shama	Copsychus malabaricus	Copsychus malabaricus leggei	Resident	Least concern
White-bellied blue flycatcher	Cyornis pallipes			Least concern (A)
Blue-throated flycatcher	Cyomis rubeculoides			Least concern
Hill blue flycatcher	Cyornis whitei			Least concern (A)
Tickell's blue flycatcher	Cyornis tickelliae			Least concern
Blue-and-white flycatcher	Cyanoptila cyanomelana			Least concern (A)
Dull-blue flycatcher	Eumyias sordidus		Endemic	Near threatened
Indian blue robin	Larvivora brunnea		Migrant	Least concern
Bluethroat	Luscinia svecica			Least concern (A)
Sri Lanka whistling-thrush	Myophonus blighi		Endemic	Endangered
Yellow-rumped flycatcher	Ficedula zanthopygia			Least concern (A)
Black-and-orange flycatcher	Ficedula nigrorufa			Near threatened (A)
Slaty-blue flycatcher	Ficedula tricolor			Least concern (A)
Kashmir flycatcher	Ficedula subrubra			Vulnerable
Red-breasted flycatcher	Ficedula parva			Least concern (A)
Rufous-tailed rock-thrush	Monticola saxatilis			Least concern (A)
Blue rock-thrush	Monticola solitarius			Least concern
Whinchat	Saxicola rubetra			Least concern (A)
Siberian stonechat	Saxicola maurus			Not evaluated (A)
Pied bushchat	Saxicola caprata			Least concern
Northern wheatear	Oenanthe oenanthe			Least concern (A)
Isabelline wheatear	Oenanthe isabellina			Least concern (A)
Desert wheatear	Oenanthe deserti			Least concern (A)
Pied wheatear	Oenanthe pleschanka			Least concern (A)

Flowerpeckers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicaeidae

The flowerpeckers are very small, stout, often brightly coloured birds, with short tails, short thick curved bills and tubular tongues.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Thick-billed flowerpecker	Dicaeum agile	Dicaeum agile zeylonense	Resident	Least concern
White-throated flowerpecker	Dicaeum vincens		Endemic	Near threatened
Pale-billed flowerpecker	Dicaeum erythrorhynchos	Dicaeum erythrorhynchos ceylonense	Resident	Least concern

Sunbirds and spiderhunters[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Nectariniidae

The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Purple-rumped sunbird	Leptocoma zeylonica	Leptocoma zeylonica zeylonica	Resident	Least concern
Crimson-backed sunbird	Leptocoma minima			Least concern (A)
Purple sunbird	Cinnyris asiaticus	Cinnyris asiaticus asiaticus	Resident	Least concern
Loten's sunbird	Cinnyris lotenius		Resident	Least concern

Fairy-bluebirds[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Irenidae

The fairy-bluebirds are bulbul-like birds of open forest or thorn scrub. The males are dark-blue and the females a duller green.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Asian fairy-bluebird	Irena puella			Least concern (A)

Leafbirds[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Chloropseidae

The leafbirds are small, bulbul-like birds. The males are brightly plumaged, usually in greens and yellows.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Jerdon's leafbird	Chloropsis jerdoni		Resident	Least concern
Golden-fronted leafbird	Chloropsis aurifrons		Resident	Least concern

Weavers and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ploceidae

The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black, some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Streaked weaver	Ploceus manyar			Least concern
Baya weaver	Ploceus philippinus			Least concern

Waxbills and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Red avadavat	Amandava amandava			Least concern (A)
Indian silverbill	Euodice malabarica			Least concern
White-rumped munia	Lonchura striata	Southwestern white-rumped munia Lonchura striata striata		Least concern
Black-throated munia	Lonchura kelaarti	Lonchura kelaarti kelaarti		Least concern
Scaly-breasted munia	Lonchura punctulata	Lonchura punctulata punctulata		Least concern
Tricolored munia	Lonchura malacca			Least concern
Chestnut munia	Lonchura atricapilla			Least concern (A)
Java sparrow	Padda oryzivora			Endangered (A)

Old World sparrows[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
House sparrow	Passer domesticus	Passer domesticus indicus	Resident	Least concern
Yellow-throated sparrow	Gymnoris xanthocollis			Least concern (A)

Wagtails and pipits[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Forest wagtail	Dendronanthus indicus			Least concern
Gray wagtail	Motacilla cinerea			Least concern
Western yellow wagtail	Motacilla flava	Motacilla flava beema		Least concern
Eastern yellow wagtail	Motacilla tschutschensis			Least concern (A)
Citrine wagtail	Motacilla citreola			Least concern (A)
White-browed wagtail	Motacilla maderaspatensis			Least concern (A)
White wagtail	Motacilla alba			Least concern
Richard's pipit	Anthus richardi			Least concern
Paddyfield pipit	Anthus rufulus	Anthus rufulus malayensis		Least concern
Blyth's pipit	Anthus godlewskii			Least concern
Tawny pipit	Anthus campestris			Least concern (A)
Olive-backed pipit	Anthus hodgsoni			Least concern (A)
Red-throated pipit	Anthus cervinus			Least concern (A)

Finches, euphonias, and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Common rosefinch	Carpodacus erythrinus			Least concern (A)

Old World buntings[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

Name	Binomial	Subspecies	Status	IUCN
Black-headed bunting	Emberiza melanocephala			Least concern (A)
Red-headed bunting	Emberiza bruniceps			Least concern (A)
Gray-necked bunting	Emberiza buchanani			Least concern (A)

See also[]

• List of endemic birds of Sri Lanka
• List of resident birds of Sri Lanka
• Lists of birds by region
•  Sri Lanka portal

References[]

• Collinson, Martin (June 2006). "Splitting headaches? Recent taxonomic changes affecting the British and Western Palaearctic lists". British Birds. 99: 306-323.

Further reading[]

• A Field Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka by John Harrison and Tim Worfolk
• Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka by G. M. Henry