Sri Lanka
Checklist of Endemic Bird Species
This list of bird species found exclusively in Sri Lanka is based on the taxonomy used in HBW/BirdLife v. 9 (2024). For further details on possible inaccuracies in the list see Sources & Caveats.
HBW/BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist (Version 9.0).The lists are based on the October 2024 update available here.
Additional species 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
Rubigula melanictera
(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
Argya cinereifrons
(Passeriformes Leiotrichidae) Ashy-fronted
Babbler
Argya rufescens
(Passeriformes Leiotrichidae) Orange-billed
Babbler
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
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