Sri Lanka

Checklist of Endemic Bird Species

This list of bird species found exclusively in Sri Lanka is based on the taxonomy used in del Hoyo & Collar (2014 & 2016). The source list based on the December 2017 update is available online here. For further details on possible inaccuracies in the list see Sources & Caveats.

del Hoyo, J. & N.J. Collar HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. 2014 Vol. 1: Non-passerines & 2016 Vol. 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Additional species recognized after the HBW-BirdLife December 2017 update or considered valid by other major checklists are listed at the bottom of the page.

Galloperdix bicalcarata  (Galliformes Phasianidae)  Sri Lanka Spurfowl

Gallus lafayettii  (Galliformes Phasianidae)  Sri Lanka Junglefowl

Columba torringtoniae  (Columbiformes Columbidae)  Sri Lanka Woodpigeon

Treron pompadora  (Columbiformes Columbidae)  Sri Lanka Green-pigeon

Centropus chlororhynchos  (Cuculiformes Cuculidae)  Green-billed Coucal

Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus  (Cuculiformes Cuculidae)  Red-faced Malkoha

Glaucidium castanotum  (Strigiformes Strigidae)  Chestnut-backed Owlet

Otus thilohoffmanni  (Strigiformes Strigidae)  Serendib Scops-owl

Ocyceros gingalensis  (Bucerotiformes Bucerotidae)  Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill

Psilopogon rubricapillus  (Piciformes Megalaimidae)  Sri Lanka Barbet

Psilopogon flavifrons  (Piciformes Megalaimidae)  Yellow-fronted Barbet

Chrysocolaptes stricklandi  (Piciformes Picidae)  Greater Sri Lanka Flameback

Dinopium psarodes  (Piciformes Picidae)  Lesser Sri Lanka Flameback

Loriculus beryllinus  (Psittaciformes Psittacidae)  Sri Lanka Hanging-parrot

Nicopsitta calthrapae  (Psittaciformes Psittacidae)  Emerald-collared Parakeet

Tephrodornis affinis  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Sri Lanka Woodshrike

Dicrurus lophorinus  (Passeriformes Dicruridae)  Sri Lanka Drongo

Urocissa ornata  (Passeriformes Corvidae)  Sri Lanka Blue Magpie

Elaphrornis palliseri  (Passeriformes Locustellidae)  Sri Lanka Warbler

Cecropis hyperythra  (Passeriformes Hirundinidae)  Sri Lanka Swallow

Pycnonotus melanicterus  (Passeriformes Pycnonotidae)  Black-capped Bulbul

Pycnonotus penicillatus  (Passeriformes Pycnonotidae)  Yellow-eared Bulbul

Zosterops ceylonensis  (Passeriformes Zosteropidae)  Sri Lanka White-eye

Pomatorhinus melanurus  (Passeriformes Timaliidae)  Sri Lanka Scimitar-babbler

Pellorneum fuscocapillus  (Passeriformes Pellorneidae)  Brown-capped Babbler

Turdoides rufescens  (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae)  Orange-billed Babbler

Garrulax cinereifrons  (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae)  Ashy-headed Laughingthrush

Sturnornis albofrontatus  (Passeriformes Sturnidae)  White-faced Starling

Gracula ptilogenys  (Passeriformes Sturnidae)  Sri Lanka Hill Myna

Geokichla spiloptera  (Passeriformes Turdidae)  Spot-winged Thrush

Eumyias sordidus  (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)  Dull-blue Flycatcher

Myophonus blighi  (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)  Sri Lanka Whistling-thrush

Dicaeum vincens  (Passeriformes Dicaeidae)  White-throated Flowerpecker

The following additional endemic species are not recognized as distinct by HBW-BirdLife but are considered valid by one or more of the following checklists: eBird/Clements v2019 (Cornell) = 1, IOC 10.1 (IOC) = 2, and Howard & Moore 4.1 (TAS) = 3.

Zootheria imbricata  (Passeriformes Turdidae)  Sri Lanka Thrush  12

The following additional endemic species were recognized as distinct by the IOC since the IOC 10.1 checklist (IOC) and were also not recognized in any of the other checklists listed above.

Copsychus leggei  (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)  Sri Lankan Shama