Sri Lanka - Birds Paradise

Sri Lanka is one of the best places in the world for bird watching. Sri Lanka is a birds paradise with a total of 482 bird species have recorded up to now. Out of this 233 are resident breeders and 216 bird species are migrants. There are 33 endemic bird species in Sri Lanka as well.

There are many bird watching sites across the island that you spot these birds. Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Horton Plains, Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, Knuckles Range and Udawatta Kele are some of the famous wet zone and hill country sites for bird watching. When you come to the dry zone most of the national parks are famous for bird watching in Sri Lanka. Bundala, Kumana, Minneriya, Wasgamuwa, Wilpattu and Yala National Parks are the best places in the dry zone for bird watching.

Here are some of the species that captured in Kumana & Wasgamuwa National Parks.....

Brahiminy Kite Eagle

Brahiminy Kite is a medium size raptor at about 48 centimeters in length. They feed on fish, crabs, frogs and small birds also. 

In flight white breast will be prominent with chestnut tail and wings. You can spot this eagle in dry climate forests and in the wet zone as well.

Captured in Kumana & Wasgamuwa National Parks..

Sri Lankan Leopard - Panthera Pardus Kotiya

Sri Lankan  Leopard is a Leopard subspecies native to Sri Lanka. Classified as Endangered by IUCN. Sri Lankan Leopard have historically been found in all habitats all over the island. The Sri Lankan subspecies was first declared in 1956.

The survival of Sri Lankan Leopard is threatened due to various reasons like poaching and human-leopard conflicts. Male leopard's average length is around 7 to 8 feet. Female Leopard's average length is 5 to 6 feet.

Sri Lankan Leopard is the country's top predator preys on spotted deer, Sambar, wild boar, barking deer, monkeys, mammals, birds and reptiles. Sri Lankan Leopard also known as the silent killer in the jungle.

Yala, Kumana, Wasgamuwa & Wilpattu national parks are the best places to spot Sri Lankan Leopards.

Brown Headed Barbet

Brown Headed Barbet is known as Asian Bart as well. This bird specie is a resident breeder in the Indian Subcontinent, widely spread in India and also seen in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. 

This bird mainly feeds on fruits and insects. This is a relatively large barbet at about 27 centimeters in length.

Captured in Wasgamuwa National Park

Code of Conduct in Sri Lankan National Parks

This is for all wild life lover....please practice these thing when you visit Sri Lankan National Parks....

Malabar Pied Horn Bill

Malabar pied horn bill also known as lessor horn bill as well. This bird is a resident breeder in southern Asia from India and Sri Lanka east to Borneo.

Malabar pied horn bill is a large bird at 65 centimeters in length. You can spot this bird in dry climate forests like Wasgamuwa, Kumana & Yala in Sri Lanka.

Captured in Kumana & Wasgamuwa National Parks....

White Breasted Kingfisher

White Breasted kingfisher is mainly found in Asia. This kingfisher also known as Tree Kingfisher. This is a large kingfisher, 38 centimeters in length.

Fully grown adult bird has a bright blue back. 
White Breasted kingfisher is a common species over variety of habitats.