This isn’t about all birds in Sri Lanka, but rather, birds that I’ve seen and photographed. I’m keeping a general repository list here. Granted, it’ll likely be more for my reference than anyone else’s – I need to look up names on occasion to remember what a bird is named – but you might benefit from it as well. Or be amused at my birdie pictures. 🙂
This page is a work-in-progress, one that I’ll update as I take more photos (or locate ones that I took months or years ago) and as I identify bird names, no doubt with the help of many others. I hope you enjoy. 😀
Birds that haven’t been identified:
Parrot
Sunbird, possibly
Likely a type of sunbird, but which one, I don’t know.
Dicrurus caerulescens ???
White Bellied Drongo, aka Kauda (Sinhala). I think – need confirmation.
Birds that have been identified:
Acridotheres tristis melanosternus
Common Myna. Known locally as Myna.
Ardeola grayii
Indian Pond Heron. Known locally as Kana Koka.
Bubulcus ibis
Cattle Egret, or Gava-koka (Sinhala).
Centropus sinensis
Greater Coucal. Also known locally as Atikukula (also spelled Atti Kukkula), Bu Kukkula.
Copsychus saularis
Oriental Magpie Robin. Known locally as Polkichcha (Sinhala).
Corvus splendens
Colombo Crows, House Crows.
Halcyon smymensis race fusca
White-Throated Kingfisher, Whte-Breasted Kingfisher, Smyrna Kingfisher. Known as Vichuli (Tamil) and Pilihuduwa (Sinhala).
Leptocoma zeylonica
Purple-rumped Sunbird, Pani Kurulla.
Lonchura striata
White-Rumped Munia, Nitamba Sudu Vikurulla.
Megalaima zeylanica
Brown-Headed Barbet, also known as Polos Kottoruwa in Sinhala.
Oriolus xanthornus
Kaha Kurulla (Sinhala), which translates to ‘yellow bird’, aka Black-hooded Oriole.
Orthotomus sutorius
Common Tailorbird. Also known locally as Battichcha (Sinhala).
Psittacula krameri
Rose-Ringed Parakeets, also known as Rena Girava (Sinhala).
Pycnonotus cafer
Red Vented Bulbul. Also known locally as Kondaya or Konda Kurulla.
Streptopelia chinensis
Spotted Dove, also known as the Spotted Turtle Dove, Chinese Dove, and Alu Kobeiya (Sinhala)
Turboides affinis
Yellow-Billed Babbler. Also known locally as the Seven Sisters and Demalichcha (Sinhala).
Edited 27 February 2010
Fabulous! Especially the kingfisher. The color on him is amazing!
Its incredible how many of these birds Id confused with ones here in America. Especially the Dove and the Tailor bird. Seems no matter where I go I run into some form of Morning Dove. Oh please, More pictures of the Kingfisher! Truly impressive. By the way do you have as bad a problem with smog in Sri Lanka as I had in Manila taking pictures?
Mite go to : http://whatistheeye.wordpress.com
nice info on eye problems, anywho, GREAT Post! Looking forward to more!
Lee, we live far enough out from the city that smog isn’t so much of a problem here.
I’ve been trying to get better pictures of the kingfisher, but they just haven’t been cooperating. As soon as I get better ones, I’ll post them. 🙂
great work. nice pics. i love birds.
I think the Second of the unidentified is Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus) and the third definitely White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens)