The Biggest Twitch Bird List for Sri Lanka

10-day Tour, February 2011

We’ve included below the full list of species that we saw on our recent tour in Sri Lanka. In total we saw 247 species, including all the endemic species that Sri Lanka has to offer. These number 25 species according Clements’ taxonomy, although some other taxonomic lists include 33 endemics. Whichever way you choose to list them, we saw the lot, as well as a host of other wonderful species during our time in this fantastic birding country.

We'll be running trips there in February and March 2012 so if you'd like more details, email us on info@thebiggesttwitch.com

Ceylon Blue Magpie

ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae
Lesser Whistling-Duck, Dendrocygna javanica
Cotton Pygmy-Goose, Nettapus coromandelianus
Garganey, Anas querquedula

GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae
Gray Francolin *, Francolinus pondicerianus
Ceylon Spurfowl, Galloperdix bicalcarata, Endemic
Ceylon Junglefowl, Gallus lafayetii, Endemic
Indian Peafowl, Pavo cristatus

PODICIPEDIFORMES: Podicipedidae
Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis

CICONIIFORMES: Ciconiidae
Asian Openbill, Anastomus oscitans
Painted Stork, Mycteria leucocephala, Near-threatened

SULIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae
Indian Cormorant, Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
Little Cormorant, Phalacrocorax niger

SULIFORMES: Anhingidae
Oriental Darter, Anhinga melanogaster, Near-threatened

PELECANIFORMES: Pelecanidae
Spot-billed Pelican, Pelecanus philippensis, Near-threatened

PELECANIFORMES: Ardeidae
Yellow Bittern, Ixobrychus sinensis
Black Bittern, Ixobrychus flavicollis
Gray Heron, Ardea cinerea
Purple Heron, Ardea purpurea
Great Egret, Ardea alba
Intermediate Egret, Mesophoyx intermedia
Little Egret, Egretta garzetta
Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
Indian Pond-Heron, Ardeola grayii
Striated Heron, Butorides striata
Black-crowned Night-Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax





Black Bittern


PELECANIFORMES: Threskiornithidae
Black-headed Ibis, Threskiornis melanocephalus, Near-threatened
Eurasian Spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia

ACCIPITRIFORMES: Accipitridae
Oriental Honey-buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus
Black-shouldered Kite, Elanus caeruleus
Brahminy Kite, Haliastur indus
White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Haliaeetus leucogaster
Gray-headed Fish-Eagle, Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus, Near-threatened
Crested Serpent-Eagle, Spilornis cheela
Shikra, Accipiter badius
Black Eagle, Ictinaetus malayensis
Booted Eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus
Rufous-bellied Eagle, Lophotriorchis kienerii
Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Nisaetus cirrhatus
Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Nisaetus nipalensis

FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae
Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus

GRUIFORMES: Rallidae
Slaty-legged Crake, Rallina eurizonoides
White-breasted Waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus
Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea
Purple Swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio
Common Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus

CHARADRIIFORMES: Burhinidae
Eurasian Thick-knee, Burhinus oedicnemus
Great Thick-knee, Esacus recurvirostris

CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae
Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Vanellus malabaricus
Red-wattled Lapwing, Vanellus indicus
Black-bellied Plover, Pluvialis squatarola
Pacific Golden-Plover, Pluvialis fulva
Lesser Sand-Plover, Charadrius mongolus
Greater Sand-Plover, Charadrius leschenaultii
Snowy Plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
Common Ringed Plover, Charadrius hiaticula
Little Ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius

CHARADRIIFORMES: Recurvirostridae
Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus

CHARADRIIFORMES: Jacanidae
Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus




Pheasant-tailed Jacana


CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae
Terek Sandpiper *, Xenus cinereus
Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
Common Greenshank, Tringa nebularia
Marsh Sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis
Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola
Common Redshank, Tringa totanus
Whimbrel *, Numenius phaeopus
Eurasian Curlew, Numenius arquata, Near-threatened
Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa, Near-threatened
Bar-tailed Godwit *, Limosa lapponica
Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaria interpres
Sanderling *, Calidris alba
Little Stint, Calidris minuta
Temminck's Stint, Calidris temminckii
Curlew Sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea
Ruff, Philomachus pugnax
Pin-tailed Snipe, Gallinago stenura
Red-necked Phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus

CHARADRIIFORMES: Turnicidae
Barred Buttonquail, Turnix suscitator

CHARADRIIFORMES: Glareolidae
Small Pratincole, Glareola lactea

CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae
Brown-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus
Little Tern, Sternula albifrons
Saunders's Tern, Sternula saundersi
Gull-billed Tern, Gelochelidon nilotica
Caspian Tern, Hydroprogne caspia
Black Tern, Chlidonias niger
White-winged Tern, Chlidonias leucopterus
Whiskered Tern, Chlidonias hybrida
Common Tern, Sterna hirundo
Great Crested Tern, Thalasseus bergii
Lesser Crested Tern, Thalasseus bengalensis

COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae
Rock Pigeon, Columba livia
Ceylon Wood-Pigeon, Columba torringtoni, Endemic Vulnerable
Spotted Dove, Streptopelia chinensis
Emerald Dove, Chalcophaps indica
Orange-breasted Pigeon, Treron bicinctus
Pompadour Green-Pigeon, Treron pompadora, Some taxonomies consider this an endemic split
Green Imperial-Pigeon, Ducula aenea

PSITTACIFORMES: Psittacidae
Alexandrine Parakeet, Psittacula eupatria
Rose-ringed Parakeet, Psittacula krameri, Introduced species
Plum-headed Parakeet, Psittacula cyanocephala
Layard's Parakeet, Psittacula calthropae, Endemic
Ceylon Hanging-Parrot, Loriculus beryllinus, Endemic

CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae
Pied Cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus
Indian Cuckoo, Cuculus micropterus
Asian Koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus
Blue-faced Malkoha, Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
Sirkeer Malkoha, Phaenicophaeus leschenaultii
Red-faced Malkoha, Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus, Endemic Vulnerable
Greater Coucal, Centropus sinensis
Green-billed Coucal, Centropus chlororhynchus, Endemic Vulnerable





Red-faced Malkoha


STRIGIFORMES: Tytonidae
Barn Owl *, Tyto alba

STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae
Serendib Scops-Owl, Otus thilohoffmanni, Endemic Endangered
Indian Scops-Owl, Otus bakkamoena
Brown Fish-Owl, Ketupa zeylonensis
Jungle Owlet, Glaucidium radiatum
Chestnut-backed Owlet, Glaucidium castanonotum, Endemic Near-threatened
Brown Wood-Owl, Strix leptogrammica

CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Podargidae
Ceylon Frogmouth, Batrachostomus moniliger

CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae
Jerdon's Nightjar, Caprimulgus atripennis
Indian Nightjar, Caprimulgus asiaticus

APODIFORMES: Apodidae
Brown-backed Needletail, Hirundapus giganteus
Indian Swiftlet, Aerodramus unicolor
Little Swift, Apus affinis
Asian Palm-Swift, Cypsiurus balasiensis

APODIFORMES: Hemiprocnidae
Crested Treeswift, Hemiprocne coronata

TROGONIFORMES: Trogonidae
Malabar Trogon, Harpactes fasciatus

CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae
Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
Black-backed Kingfisher, Ceyx erithaca
Stork-billed Kingfisher, Pelargopsis capensis
White-throated Kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis
Pied Kingfisher, Ceryle rudis

CORACIIFORMES: Meropidae
Green Bee-eater, Merops orientalis
Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Merops philippinus
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Merops leschenaulti





Chestnut-headed Bee-eater


CORACIIFORMES: Coraciidae
Indian Roller, Coracias benghalensis

CORACIIFORMES: Upupidae
Eurasian Hoopoe, Upupa epops

CORACIIFORMES: Bucerotidae
Ceylon Gray Hornbill, Ocyceros gingalensis, Endemic
Malabar Pied-Hornbill, Anthracoceros coronatus, Near-threatened

PICIFORMES: Megalaimidae
Brown-headed Barbet, Megalaima zeylanica
Yellow-fronted Barbet, Megalaima flavifrons, Endemic
Crimson-fronted Barbet, Megalaima rubricapillus, Some taxonomies consider this an endemic split, known as Small Barbet
Coppersmith Barbet, Megalaima haemacephala

PICIFORMES: Picidae
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, Dendrocopos mahrattensis
Rufous Woodpecker, Celeus brachyurus
Lesser Yellownape, Picus chlorolophus
Black-rumped Flameback, Dinopium benghalense
Greater Flameback, Chrysocolaptes lucidus, Some taxonomies consider this an endemic split, known as Crimson-backed Woodpecker
White-naped Woodpecker, Chrysocolaptes festivus





White-naped Woodpecker


PASSERIFORMES: Pittidae
Indian Pitta, Pitta brachyura

PASSERIFORMES: Prionopidae
Common Woodshrike, Tephrodornis pondicerianus, Some taxonomies consider this an endemic split, known as Sri Lankan/Ceylon Woodshrike

PASSERIFORMES: Artamidae
Ashy Woodswallow, Artamus fuscus

PASSERIFORMES: Aegithinidae
Common Iora, Aegithina tiphia

PASSERIFORMES: Campephagidae
Black-headed Cuckoo-shrike, Coracina melanoptera
Small Minivet, Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
Scarlet Minivet, Pericrocotus flammeus
Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Hemipus picatus

PASSERIFORMES: Laniidae
Brown Shrike, Lanius cristatus

PASSERIFORMES: Oriolidae
Black-hooded Oriole, Oriolus xanthornus

PASSERIFORMES: Dicruridae
White-bellied Drongo, Dicrurus caerulescens
Sri Lanka Crested Drongo, Dicrurus lophorinus, Some taxonomies consider this an endemic split from Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

PASSERIFORMES: Rhipiduridae
White-browed Fantail, Rhipidura aureola

PASSERIFORMES: Monarchidae
Black-naped Monarch, Hypothymis azurea
Asian Paradise-Flycatcher, Terpsiphone paradisi

PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae
Ceylon Magpie, Urocissa ornata, Endemic Vulnerable
House Crow, Corvus splendens
Large-billed Crow, Corvus macrorhynchos

PASSERIFORMES: Alaudidae
Jerdon's Bushlark, Mirafra affinis
Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark, Eremopterix griseus
Oriental Skylark, Alauda gulgula

PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae
Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica
Hill Swallow, Hirundo domicola
Red-rumped Swallow, Cecropis daurica, Some taxonomies consider this an endemic split, known as Sri Lankan/Ceylon Swallow




Hill Swallow


PASSERIFORMES: Stenostiridae
Gray-headed Canary-Flycatcher, Culicicapa ceylonensis

PASSERIFORMES: Paridae
Great Tit, Parus major

PASSERIFORMES: Sittidae
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Sitta frontalis

PASSERIFORMES: Pycnonotidae
Black-crested Bulbul, Pycnonotus melanicterus, Some taxonomies consider this an endemic split, known as Black-capped Bulbul
Red-vented Bulbul, Pycnonotus cafer
Yellow-eared Bulbul, Pycnonotus penicillatus, Endemic Near-threatened
White-browed Bulbul, Pycnonotus luteolus
Yellow-browed Bulbul, Iole indica
Black Bulbul, Hypsipetes leucocephalus





Yellow-eared Bulbul


PASSERIFORMES: Phylloscopidae
Green Warbler, Phylloscopus nitidus
Greenish Warbler, Phylloscopus trochiloides, Rare/Accidental
Large-billed Leaf-Warbler, Phylloscopus magnirostris

PASSERIFORMES: Acrocephalidae
Blyth's Reed-Warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum
Clamorous Reed-Warbler, Acrocephalus stentoreus

PASSERIFORMES: Megaluridae
Ceylon Bush-Warbler, Bradypterus palliseri, Endemic Near-threatened

PASSERIFORMES: Cisticolidae
Zitting Cisticola, Cisticola juncidis
Common Tailorbird, Orthotomus sutorius
Gray-breasted Prinia, Prinia hodgsonii
Jungle Prinia, Prinia sylvatica
Ashy Prinia, Prinia socialis
Plain Prinia, Prinia inornata

PASSERIFORMES: Sylviidae
Yellow-eyed Babbler, Chrysomma sinense

PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae
Asian Brown Flycatcher, Muscicapa dauurica
Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Muscicapa muttui
Kashmir Flycatcher, Ficedula subrubra Vulnerable
Dull-blue Flycatcher, Eumyias sordidus Endemic Near-threatened
Tickell's Blue-Flycatcher, Cyornis tickelliae
Indian Blue Robin, Luscinia brunnea
Oriental Magpie-Robin, Copsychus saularis
White-rumped Shama, Copsychus malabaricus
Indian Robin, Saxicoloides fulicatus
Pied Bushchat, Saxicola caprata

PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae
Ceylon Whistling-Thrush, Myophonus blighi, Endemic Endangered
Pied Thrush, Zoothera wardii
Orange-headed Thrush, Zoothera citrina
Spot-winged Thrush, Zoothera spiloptera, Endemic Near-threatened
Scaly Thrush, Zoothera dauma, Some taxonomies consider this an endemic split, known as Ceylon Scaly Thrush, zoothera imbricata
Eurasian Blackbird, Turdus merula, Some taxonomies consider this a potential endemic split




Spot-winged Thrush


PASSERIFORMES: Timaliidae
Ashy-headed Laughingthrush, Garrulax cinereifrons, Endemic Vulnerable
Brown-capped Babbler, Pellorneum fuscocapillus, Endemic
Sri Lanka Scimitar-Babbler, Pomatorhinus melanurus, Endemic
Tawny-bellied Babbler, Dumetia hyperythra
Dark-fronted Babbler, Rhopocichla atriceps
Orange-billed Babbler, Turdoides rufescens, Endemic Near-threatened
Yellow-billed Babbler, Turdoides affinis

PASSERIFORMES: Zosteropidae
Ceylon White-eye, Zosterops ceylonensis, Endemic
Oriental White-eye, Zosterops palpebrosus

PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae
Southern Hill Myna, Gracula indica
Ceylon Myna, Gracula ptilogenys, Endemic Near-threatened
Common Myna, Acridotheres tristis
White-faced Starling, Sturnia albofrontata, Endemic Vulnerable
Brahminy Starling, Temenuchus pagodarum
Rosy Starling, Pastor roseus

PASSERIFORMES: Chloropseidae
Jerdon's Leafbird, Chloropsis jerdoni
Golden-fronted Leafbird, Chloropsis aurifrons

PASSERIFORMES: Dicaeidae
Thick-billed Flowerpecker, Dicaeum agile
White-throated Flowerpecker, Dicaeum vincens, Endemic Near-threatened
Pale-billed Flowerpecker *, Dicaeum erythrorhynchos

PASSERIFORMES: Nectariniidae
Purple-rumped Sunbird, Leptocoma zeylonica
Purple Sunbird, Cinnyris asiaticus
Long-billed Sunbird, Cinnyris lotenius

PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae
Western Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava
Gray Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
White Wagtail, Motacilla alba
Richard's Pipit, Anthus richardi
Oriental Pipit/Paddyfield Pipit, Anthus rufulus
Forest Wagtail, Dendronanthus indicus

PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae
House Sparrow, Passer domesticus

PASSERIFORMES: Ploceidae
Baya Weaver, Ploceus philippinus

PASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae
Indian Silverbill *, Euodice malabarica
White-rumped Munia, Lonchura striata
Black-throated Munia, Lonchura kelaarti
Nutmeg Mannikin/Scaly-breasted Munia, Lonchura punctulata
Tricolored Munia/Black-headed Munia, Lonchura malacca

* Seen on pre-tour only

Sri Lanka Scimitar-Babbler

We'll be running trips to Sri Lanka in February and March 2012 so if you'd like more details, email us on info@thebiggesttwitch.com