SRI LANKA SWALLOW

Subspecies hyperythra, photographed March 2017

1059                SRI LANKA SWALLOW                    Cecropis (daurica) hyperythra

SRI LANKA                 17

Found in open areas at forest fringes, plantations, human habitation, grasslands and paddy fields. 16-17 cm. Rather uncommon breeding resident throughout Sri Lanka.

NOTE: often treated as conspecific with Red-rumped Swallow.

INDIAN POND HERON

Photographed March 2017

(*  998)                  INDIAN POND HERON                Ardeola grayii

SRI LANKA               16

Found on the edges of all types of freshwater wetlands, coastal lagoons and marshes. 42-45 cm. Very common breeding resident throughout the island, also large number of winter migrants.

BRAHMINY KITE

Subspecies indus, photographed March 2017

(*    888)               BRAHMINY KITE             Haliastur indus

SRI LANKA                   15

Found near water mainly in coastal areas and large inland wetlands, also along rivers. 48 cm. Locally common breeding resident in lowlands, and rare but regular visitor to the hills.

SPOTTED DOVE

Subspecies Ceylonensis, photographed March 2017

(*  50)               SPOTTED DOVE                      Stigmatopelia chinensis

SRI LANKA              14

Found in cultivation, gardens and open forest, avoids interior of dense wet forests. 30 cm. Very common breeding resident throughout country but avoids tops of hills. 

BLACK-HOODED ORIOLE

Subspecies ceylonensis, photographed March 2017

(*  254)                BLACK-HOODED ORIOLE                 Oriolus xanthornus

SRI LANKA                13

Found in forests, wooded areas and trees in villages and town gardens. 25 cm. Fairly common breeding resident in lowlands up to mid hills.                       

RED-VENTED BULBUL

Subspecies haemorrhous, photographed March 2017

(*   332)                 RED-VENTED BULBUL                Pycnonotus cafer    

SRI LANKA              12

Found in forest fringes, open-forest, cultivation and trees in habitation, avoids interior of thick forest in wet zones. 20 cm. Very common breeding resident throughout the country.

ORIENTAL MAGPIE-ROBIN

Subspecies ceylonensis photographed in Sri Lanka, March 2017

(*  893)                 ORIENTAL MAGPIE-ROBIN                  Copsychus saularis    

SRI LANKA               11

Found in gardens, scrub, open forests, cultivation, avoids interior of wet forest. 23 cm. Common breeding resident throughout Sri Lanka.

YELLOW-BILLED BABBLER

Photographed in Sri Lanka, March 2017

1058                  YELLOW-BILLED BABBLER                     Turdoides affinis 

SRI LANKA             10

Keeps in flocks, mainly on ground; found in forests, wooded areas and trees in villages and town gardens, but avoids forests in wet zones and adjoining hills. 23 cm. Common breeding resident from lowlands up to mid hills; uncommon and local higher up.

WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER

Photographed in Sri Lanka, March 2017

(*  332)                    WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER                 Halcyon smyrnensis

SRI LANKA                9

Found in open country, cultivation, gardens and wetlands. 28 cm. Common breeding resident throughout Sri Lanka.

ASIAN-PARADISE FLYCATCHER

Photographed in Sri Lanka, March 2017

1057                    ASIAN-PARADISE FLYCATCHER                Terpsiphone paradisi        

SRI LANKA                 8

Found in open forests, groves and town gardens. 20 cm. Fairly common breeding resident, locally and in dry lowlands and adjoining dry lower hills.

CATTLE EGRET

Photographed in Sri Lanka, March 2017

(*   216)                    CATTLE EGRET                  Bubulus ibis

SRI LANKA                        7

Usually associated with cattle; found in paddy fields, marshes, damp grassland and garbage dumps. 48-53 cm. Common breeding resident in lowlands; also a large number of winter migrants arrive across the country.

BROWN-HEADED BARBET

Photographed in Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 2017

1056                  BROWN-HEADED BARBET                   Megalaima zeylanica  

SRI LANKA                   6

Subspecies zeylanica. Found in forests, open woods, gardens and trees in cultivation. 27 cm. Common breeding resident from lowlands to mid hills and occasionally visits higher hills.

PURPLE-RUMPED SUNBIRD

Photographed in Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 2017

1055             PURPLE-RUMPED SUNBIRD                  Nectarinia zeylonica

SRI LANKA                       5

Subspecies zeylonica. Found in cultivation, gardens and forests. 10 cm. Common breeding resident in lowlands and up to mid hills, rare above.

COMMON MYNA

Photographed in Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 2017

(*   27)                  COMMON MYNA                 Acridotheres tristis

SRI LANKA             4

Subspecies melanosternus. Found in forest edges, trees in open areas and villages and town gardens. 25 cm.  Common breeding resident throughout.

JAVAN MUNIA

Photographed in Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 2017

(* 811)         JAVAN MUNIA                    Lonchura leucogastroides         

SRI LANKA                3

Subspecies striata. Found in forests, open wooded areas, scrub and cultivation. 10-11 cm. Fairly common breeding resident in lowlands and up to mid hills.

PALE-BILLED FLOWERPECKER

Photographed in Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 2017

1053             PALE-BILLED FLOWERPECKER                       Dicaeum erythrorhynchos

SRI LANKA                  2

Subspecies ceylonense. Found in areas with tall trees. 8 cm. fairly common breeding resident throughout.

ASIAN KOEL

Photographed in Colombo, Sri Lanka March 2017

(*   882)                 ASIAN KOEL                    Eudynamys scolopaceus             

SRI LANKA                    1

Subspecies scolopaceus. Found in forests, open woodlands, gardens and cultivation. 43 cm. Common breeding resident from lowlands to mid hills.