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birdwatching sri lanka, birding sri lanka, birdwatching kandy, endemic birds of Sri Lanka, endemic birds Kandy, chestnut backed owlet sri lanka

BIRDWATCHING ON OUTSKIRTS OF KANDY SRI LANKA

Polwaththa is Kandy’s secret haven for serious bird-watchers who are looking for birds in central Sri Lanka (see checklist below) We have been named as one of the top 2 destinations for bird watching in the Kandy region by one Sri Lanka’s leading birding experts.

 

Of the 15 endemics out of 62 species of birds, 5-9 sightings of endemics within approx 3 hours (between 6-9 am) is a common occurrence - that too within the 13 acre property within Polwaththa. Endemics mostly seen here are: the Sri Lankan (SL) Yellow-fronted Barbet, SL Hanging Parrot, SL Grey Hornbill, Layard's Parakeet, Greater Flameback, Ceylon Wood Pigeon, SL Chestnut-backed Owlet, Indian Scimitar Babbler and the SL Yellow-eared Bulbul.

BIRD CHECKLIST.

  1. ALEXANDRINE PARAKEET

  2. BAY-BANDED CUCKO (aka BANDED BAY CUCKOO)

  3. BLACK EAGLE

  4. BLACK BULBUL

  5. BLACK-HEADED ORIOLE

  6. BLACK-CAPPED BULBUL*

  7. BLACK-NAPED FLYCATCHER  (aka BLACK-NAPED BLUE MONARCH)

  8. BLUE-TAILED BEE EATER

  9. BROWN-HEADED BARBET

  10. BROWN FLYCATCHER (aka ASIAN BROWN FLYCATCHER)

  11. BROWN-CAPPED BABBLER*

  12. CHESTNUT-BACKED OWLET*

  13. CEYLON WOOD PIGEON*

  14. CEYLON GREY HORNBILL*

  15. CEYLON SMALL BARBET*

  16. CEYLON LORIKEET*  (aka SRI LANKAN HANGING PARROT)

  17. CEYLON SCIMITAR BABBLER

  18. COMMON HAWK-CUCKOO

  19. COMMON IORA

  20. COMMON TAILORBIRD

  21. COMMON MYNAH

  22. DUSKY BLUE FLYCATCHER* (aka DULL BLUE FLYCATCHER)

  23. Forest Wagtail

  24. HILL-MYNAH

  25. CRESTED SERPENT-EAGLE

  26. CREST HAWK-EAGLE

  27. CRIMSON-BACKED WOODPECKER* (aka CRIMSON BACKED FLAMEBACK)

  28. CRIMSON-BREASTED BARBET

  29. EMERALD DOVE

  30. FOREST EAGLE OWL

  31. GREEN LEAF WARBLER

  32. GREENISH WARBLER

  33. GREY TIT

  34. HOUSE SWIFT

  35. INDIAN EDIBLE-NEST SWIFT   (aka INDIAN SWIFTLET)

  36. INDIAN SCIMITAR BABBLER

  37. SRI LANKAN JUNGLEFOWL (National Bird) *+

  38. LARGE-BILLED LEAF WARBLER

  39. LAYARD'S PARAKEET*

  40. LESSER YELLOW-NAPED WOODPECKER

  41. LITTLE MINIVET

  42. LOTEN'S SUNBIRD

  43. MAGPIE ROBIN

  44. ORANGE MINIVET

  45. PIED FLYCATCHER-SHIRKE

  46. PURPLE-RUMPED SUNBIRD

  47. PURPLE SUNBIRD

  48. POMPADOUR GREEN PIGEON*   (aka SRI LANKAN GREEN PIGEON)

  49. RED-VENTED BULBUL

  50. SMALL WHITE-EYE

  51. SOUTHERN COMMON BABBLER   (aka YELLO-BILLED BABBLER)

  52. SPOTTED-WINGED THRUSH*

  53. SPOTTED DOVE

  54. TICKELL'S BLUE FLYCATCHER

  55. TICKET'S FLOWERPECKE  (aka PALE-BILLED FLOWERPECKER)

  56. WHITE-BELLIED DRONGO

  57. WHITE-BACKED MUNIA   (aka WHITE RUMPED MUNIA)

  58. WHITE-BROWED FANTAIL

  59. WHITE-RUMPED SHAMA

  60. VELVET-FRONTED NUTHATCH

  61. YELLOW-EARED BULBUL*+

  62. YELLOW-FRONTED BARBET*

  63. YELLOW-BROWED BULBUL

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* Endemic                    + seen very irregularly

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  • Checklist is made in alphabetical order for the benefit of non professionals​​

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  • Checklist done by the Sri Lanka Natural History Society and bird expert Upali Ekanayake

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