A pheasant species that inhabits rainforest areas. The faces of the males are characterized by red skin with white patterns, and they have extra spurs. It is a challenging bird to observe, but there are chances to see it in the Sinharaja and Kitulgala forests. They live in pairs and are territorial.

This is the national bird of Sri Lanka. It is found in bushes and forests throughout most of Sri Lanka and can be seen commonly during sightseeing tours of archeological sites. The male’s red crest with a striking yellow pattern; collar of gold feathers; and its red legs make it a dazzling bird to see.

A large pigeon that inhabits the rainforest areas of the Central Mountains of Sri Lanka, around the Horton Plains National Park as well as the Sinharaja Forest. A white pattern on the back of the neck is a distinguishing feature.

A small pigeon found from the lowlands to the hills of Sri Lanka. The face is yellow, and the wings have yellow lines. Males have dark red upper backs but the females are green. They are usually observed in pairs or in small groups.

A brightly colored parakeet with a red head observed in the lowland to hilly areas of the wet zone, located around the center to the southwest part of the island. Due to their distinct call, their small size and short tails, they are easily distinguishable from the other parrots.

A large bodied, bright green, long-tailed parakeet which is found in both wet lowland forests and in the hills. Head is gray; throat is black; and the bill color is different for the sexes: reddish pink in males and dark gray in females. They are often observed in pairs and in small groups.

A large bird with a bright red face, it inhabits forests from the lowlands to the hilly areas. Contrary to its very flashy appearance, it is quite difficult to photograph because it is usually shy and is good at hiding.

A cuckoo species that inhabits the hilly wet forests of southwestern Sri Lanka. Due to habitat deforestation and fragmentation, they only live limited areas such as the Sinharaja Forest. With a pale green beak, it serves as a watchdog of the forest, heard more often than its seen.

A small reddish-brown owl with sparse bright spots on its lower body. This is the most recently 'discovered' endemic bird in Sri Lanka, it was first identified in Sinharaja in 2001 and introduced as a new species in 2004. Currently, it is confirmed to inhabit Sinharaja and Kitulgala, but the number of individuals is quite small.

A small owl species with a rounded head, a chestnut-colored back and white streaks in front. It is a diurnal owl that can only be found in areas such as Sinharaja Forest. They are usually solitary but are sometimes seen in pairs.

A large barbet species with a blue face and throat; central face feathers and a mustache that are bright yellow; and a deep green body. Observed in the Sinharaja Forest and in areas of the southwestern part of Sri Lanka.

A small barbet species with a red forehead, orange around the eyes, and blue on the margins of the face. It is found in a wide range of places, from the lowlands to the hilly areas of Sri Lanka.

A small hornbill species with a gray upper body and whitish lower body, widely distributed in the islands of Sri Lanka. They are found in pairs and in flocks and prefer dry places. It does not have the upper mandible bulge (Casque) found in other hornbills.

A large woodpecker with a dark red back and a scaly pattern of black and white feathers on the belly. The males have a red head and females have a black head speckled with white spots. Usually, they live in pairs in the lower layers of the forest.

A small gray bird with a thick beak, a black mask and white eyebrows. Inhabits arid regions in thickets and shrubs from the lowlands to the hills. It was originally considered to be a subspecies of a Common Woodshrike.

Found in the southwestern part of Sri Lanka, this large, long-tailed blue bird has a striking white edge on its tail; a maroon head and wings; it’s red beak and eye ring are also distinctive features. It is one of the most popular endemic species of Sri Lanka and can be observed in the Sinharaja Forest. It is a bird that decorates the cover of the Helm field guide “Birds of Sri Lanka.”

This swallow species has a deep chestnut-colored belly and lower back, with a deeply notched forked tail. It is commonly seen in the open areas of farmland and boarders of the forest from the lowlands to the foothills of the mountains. Often it is seen in pairs or small groups.

A large drongo species characterized by the glossy black plumage; with a long, deeply forked tail; and a signature tuft of feathers on the forehead. It inhabits the wetlands of Sri Lanka from lowland forests to the foothills. Usually observed in pairs and often in mixed flocks. With a varied repertoire of complex whistling, bell-like and scratching sounds, their song so interesting and pretty.

A medium-sized bulbul species with a bright yellow belly and contrasting black head. They live anywhere there are trees, including forests, open woodlands and gardens from the lowlands to the foothills. Usually seen in pairs or in small groups.

A medium-sized, plump, olive-colored bulbul species with a yellow chest, the head has yellow feathers behind its eyes, and white spots above both eyes. There are white horn-shaped markings protruding from the base of its beak. It lives in small groups in the canopy of hilly forests, thickets, and gardens.

A small, brown-colored bird. Short, lightly gray eyebrows and red eyes in males but the females have a golden-yellow color. Seen being solitary or in pairs, in the dense understory of rainforests from the hills to the highlands of Sri Lanka.

A small babbler species, cinnamon-colored from the face to the belly, and the head is dark brown. They live in forests, forest edges, and thickets, and are usually seen in pairs.

It has a long, curved, bright yellow-orange beak; long white eyebrows; deeply maroon-colored wings; and a pure white throat and belly. Found from the lowlands to the montane forests often in the underbrush, usually moving in pairs and in mixed flocks.

A large babbler species; brown in color; orange beak and legs; and yellow eyes. It moves in groups and is usually found in noisy flocks in the understory of rainforests. Sings well and produces various sounds. With a limited distribution, it is mainly seen in the Sinharaja forest.

A medium-sized Laughingthrush species; gray head; dark colored beak and legs. One of the hardest species to find, but when seen, is found in small groups near the ground and in the lower layers of dense forests from the lowlands to mountain foothills. Can be observed in the Sinharaja Forest.

A medium-sized myna species with a yellow skin fold on the nape that differs from the similar species, the Lesser Hill Myna, in the shape of this yellow skin fold and a darker orange beak. It lives in small groups in the canopy and in surrounding forests of hilly areas.

A small starling species with a white face, a gray abdomen and throat. Found in pairs and small groups, usually in the canopy of lowlands and foothills. It is a bird that only lives in specific areas and is difficult to photograph.

Males are navy blue appearing almost black; with bright blue spots on the shoulders. Females are reddish brown with similar blue spots on the shoulders. Usually hiding very well in the shaded understory or on the ground of thick mountain forests. Can be observed only in limited places, one of those is the Horton Plains.

Has a large dark spot on its abdomen; white spots on its brown wings; and black facial stripes under its eyes that are very distinct for this thrush species. It mainly inhabits wetlands and is observed in the Sinharaja forests.

A large brown thrush species with a long beak, black scales spread all over its body and a brown abdomen. This species is difficult to observe, as it lives in the dense understory of rainforest hills in limited areas.

A beautiful large flycatcher species with a blue body; a bright blue forehead; and a pale gray belly. It inhabits the mountainous regions of Sri Lanka and is usually solitary or in pairs, in the dense understory of montane forests. Observed near Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains.

With a white throat and a yellow lower belly, this is a small bird. Males have a dark blue head and back, while females are dark gray. Usually found in pairs, they feed on nectar and nuts from trees in and close to wetland forest areas. Its habitat is limited, such as around Sinharaja Forest.

A dark olive-colored bird with a large white eye ring and a yellow throat. Active in flocks and found in the canopy of the hills and mountains. It is similar looking like an Oriental White-eye, but the Ceylon White-eye is slightly larger, has a longer beak, with a duller coloration overall.