List of birds of Sri Lanka
List of birds of Sri Lanka — a shorter, easy-to-understand guide
Sri Lanka is a tropical island near the southern tip of India. It has a very rich bird life for its size, with more than 500 species recorded. Many birds live here year-round, while others migrate from the north to spend the winter in Sri Lanka. About 35 species are endemic to Sri Lanka, with the Sri Lanka shama being the latest to be recognized as its own species. Many resident birds are also found in nearby India, but more than 80 forms on the island have distinct Sri Lankan plumage. Twenty-six species are globally threatened.
Where birds live in Sri Lanka
Bird distribution is shaped by three climate zones:
- Dry zone: the largest area, hot and dry with one monsoon season (October to January).
- Wet zone: in the southwest, with two monsoons, forests, and high humidity.
- Central highlands: up to about 2,450 meters above sea level, with a cool, temperate climate.
Most endemic species are found in the wet zone and the hill country, with a few reaching the dry zone as well.
How the list is organized
This guide follows An Illustrated Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka (2010) by Sarath Kotagama and Gamini Ratnavira. Taxonomy follows The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.
Bird groups you’ll see in Sri Lanka (broad categories)
- Waterfowl: ducks and geese; birds adapted to living on water.
- Rails and crakes: small to medium birds that prefer dense vegetation near water.
- Grebes: diving birds that swim well but are awkward on land.
- Waders and shorebirds: stilts, plovers, sandpipers, and their relatives.
- Gulls and terns: seabirds that hunt mainly by diving.
- Pelicans, herons, bitterns, ibises, spoonbills: wading and fishing birds.
- Ospreys and other raptors: fish-eating and other prey birds.
- Owls: nocturnal birds of prey.
- Trogons and hornbills: tropical woodlands’ colorful birds.
- Kingfishers and bee-eaters: small to medium birds often seen around water.
- Rollers and hoopoes: bright, colorful forest and open-country birds.
- Parrots and parakeets: often brightly colored with strong bills.
- Woodpeckers and barbets: tree-loving birds with strong bills.
- Flycatchers and flowerpeckers: small insect-eaters, some feeding on nectar.
- Sunbirds and spiderhunters: tiny nectar feeders, some hovering like hummingbirds.
- Bulbuls and ioras: common, medium-sized passerines with bright males in some species.
- Warblers, babblers, and thrushes: diverse groups of small to medium insect-eaters.
- Flycatchers and related groups: various small insect-eating birds.
- Finches, sparrows, wagtails, and allies: seed eaters and open-country birds.
- Others: several additional families that add to Sri Lanka’s bird diversity.
Notes on observation and updates
Recent updates and sighting information can be found on the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka website.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 03:08 (CET).