Best Bird Watching Sites in Sri Lanka, covered in our tour plans

Birding Sites In Sri Lanka

1. Kitulgala Rain Forest
2. Sigiriya Sanctuary
3. Udawatta Kele Forest Reserve
4. Horton Plains
5. Victoria Park in Nuwara Eliya
6. Hakgala Botanical Gardens
7. Yala National Park
8. Bundala Wetland and Bundala National Park
9. Udawalawa National Park
10. Sinharaja Rain Forest
11. Talangama Wetland
12. Anawilundawa Wetland

1. Kitulgala Rain Forest (Kelani Valley Forest Reserve) - Kitulgala forest is secondary lowland rain forest reserve to protect the water shed of the Kelani River . The forest area extending up to the higher elevations, continuous with the Peak wilderness forest area, one of the best places to see Sri Lanka 's endemic birds.
   
   Highlights - Green billed Caucal, Grey Hornbill, Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Yellow fronted Barbet, Red faced Malkoha, Spot winged Thrush, Rofous Babbler, Ashey headed Laughingthrush, with lesser Yellow napped, Pygmy and Crimson backed wood peckers, Black Bulbul, Black napped Monarch and Ceylon frog mouth etc.
    
2. Sigiriya sanctuary – Situated in and around the famous Sigiriya Rock this sanctuary is adjacent to the Minneriya National park. It is mainly a dry evergreen forest also with shrub forests, and dry deciduous forest. This is an ideal place to photograph forest birds such as Peacocks, Eagles and beautiful migrant Indian Pitta. The fauna also includes an elephant population—which migrates to the area from time to time—Sambar Deer and two varieties of monkeys.
    
3. Udawatte Kelle Sanctuary, Dunumadalawa Forest reserve and Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya are good places for birds including a few endemics such as Layard's Parakeets, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Yellow fronted Barbet, Brown capped Babbler, White rumped Shama, Tickell's Blue Flycatcher etc.
    
4. Horton Plains National Park - Horton plains, its surroundings mountain forests and grasslands constitute Sri Lanka 's most important catchment area of most all major rivers. The plains are also of outstanding scenic beauty. It is of conservation importance, containing most of the habitats and endemics plants and animals representatives of the country's wet and montane zones.
   
   Highlights - A reliable site for the crepuscular Sri Lanka whistling Thrush (E), Endemic endangered bird. SL Blue Magpie (E), Mountain Hawk Eagle, Black Eagle, SL Hill Munia, Dull Blue flycatcher (E), Yellow eared Bulbul (E), Pied Bush Chat, Grey Tit, Black Bird, Sri Lanka Bush Wabler (E), Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon (E) etc.
    
5. Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya - Nuwara Eliya is a popular hill resort providing cool and pleasant base for a number of Montane sites which include Victoria Park and Hakgala Botanical Garden . The spreading hills and vales are covered with the world's best high grown tea bushes like a green carpet. The fragrance of fresh tea leaves from the tea factories infuse the mild air. 
   
   Highlights - Sri Lanka white Eye (E), Sri Lanka Bush Wabler (E), Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon (E), Dull Blue Flycatcher (E), Indian Blue Robin, Canary Flycatcher, Black Bird etc. (Hakgala)
   Black bird, Yellow earned Bulbul (E), Pied Thrush, Canary Fly catcher, Indian Pitta, Green Sandpiper etc. (Victoria Park) 
    
6. Hakgala Botanical Garden, Nuwara Eliya - 
   
   Highlights - Sri Lanka white Eye (E), Sri Lanka Bush Wabler (E), Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon (E), Dull Blue Flycatcher (E), Indian Blue Robin, Canary Flycatcher, Black Bird etc. (Hakgala)
   Black bird, Yellow earned Bulbul (E), Pied Thrush, Canary Fly catcher, Indian Pitta, Green Sandpiper etc. (Victoria Park) 
    
7. Yala National Park (Ruhuna National Park) - The best park in Sri Lanka for viewing mammals but rich with birds too. Yala characteristic of dry zone tropical thorn forest, Scrub jungles, brackish lagoons and riverine habitats. Raptors could often be seen. During the North- East monsoon the lagoons are visited by thousands of migrating waders, turns and water birds.
   
   Highlights - Crested serpent Eagle, White Bellied Sea Eagle, Tank Eagle, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Black necked Storks, Painted Storke, Lesser Adjutant, Sirkeer Malkoha, Blue Faced Malkoha, Green and Eurasian Bee eater, Brahmany Myna, Rosy Starting, Hoopoo Pee Fowl, Pigeons and Doves, Parakeets and many more waders, Turns, Water birds etc.
    
8. Bundala Wetland and Bundala National Park - This is the First Ramsor site in Sri Lanka and it is the most important wetland for birds outside the Northern Province . The lagoons and saltants of the park are among the most important wintering areas for migratory shore birds in the Country.
   
   Highlights - Greater Flamingo, Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl (E), Great Egret, Asian Open Bill, Black winged Stilt, Yellow wattled Lapwings, Painted Storks and Large numbers of migrants including Plovers, Sand Pipers, Turnes and Ducks, Rosy Starling, Bharahuramy Myna etc.
    
9. Uda Walawa National Park - This park is situated in the Dry Zone and renowned for its out standing scenic beauty and wealth of faunal species, particularly mammals and birds. The possibility to view the elephants at close range has become another main attraction.
   
   Highlights - Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl, Sri Lanka Grey Horn Bill (E), Malabar pied Horn Bill, Woolly - necked Stork, Black headed Ibies, Black shouldered Kite, Crested Serpent Eagle, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Shikra, Sirkeer Malkoha, Blue faced Malkoha etc. 
    
10. Sinharaja Old Growth Rain forest - One of the best and easy sites. To see many of the endemics and mixed species birds feeding flocks. A UNESCO world heritage site since 1988 and home for the most endemic flora and fauna species in Sri Lanka.
    
    Mixed species of bird flocks are one of the most interesting experience of the forest. As per very recent observations, this flocks reveal that over 40 individuals and 11 varieties of bird species averagely. 
    
    Highlights - Endemic birds such as Sri Lanka Magpie including Serendib Scops Owl who discovered very recently to the world.
     
11. Talangama wetland - This wetland, on the outskirts of Colombo, is bordered by motorable roads, which makes access easy for wildlife enthusiasts. The complex of ponds, canals and paddy fields make it a rich and varied wetland site. Over a hundred species of birds have been recorded in this area including Purple-faced Leaf Monkeys, an endangered endemic species. Talangama is also good for photographing butterflies and dragonflies.
    
    Highlights - Pied Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Stork billed Kingfisher, Black Bittern, Yellow Bittern, Cinnomon Bittern, Crimson fronted Barbet, Black rumped Flameback
     
12. Anawilundawa wetland – Another Ramsar Wetland in Sri Lanka. Very good area for photographing butterflies and dragonflies. Today this area is very popular among bird watchers and nature lovers. During migration season, a large variety of birds can be seen using this area as feeding ground as well as breeding ground. Anawilundawa covers 1,397ha lying between the costal line and the Negombo - Putlam railway line. This wetland consists of six ancient manmade tanks and 3 peripheral tanks with paddy fields and village areas.
    
    Highlights - Pied Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Stork billed Kingfisher, Black Bittern, Yellow Bittern, Cinnomon Bittern, Crimson fronted Barbet, Black rumped Flameback, Blue faced Malkoha, Brown Fish Owl, Chestnut winged Cockoo

Migration routes of birds to and from Sri Lanka

According to the geographical location in the Indian Continent, the land of Sri Lanka is situated at the extreme southern point beyond the south of India. The stretch of ocean from here to the south pole contains no other land. Hence, for the migrant birds that travel south from India, Sri Lanka is the final destination.

There are 3 flying routes across India along which immigrant birds come to Sri Lanka. These are – the western route, the eastern route and the Andaman Island route.

The western route

From the northern and northwestern parts of the world along the western coastal line of India, then towards the extreme south of India, which is commarin point. Then they fly across this coast and arrive in Sri Lanaka mostly across this coastal line between Mannar and Kaluthara.

The migrant birds take this route initially from Europe, West Asia including western Siberia, & from the western regions of Himalaya including Kashimir.

The Eastern route

From the northern and northeastern parts of the world, along the Eastern coast line of India, towards the south. Passing the coastline between Kalmier point and Ramesvaran, which is further south these migratory birds arrive in Sri Lanka from India, from East Asia which includes eastern Sibiria and Mongolia, from the Eastern regions of Himalaya including Tibet, these migratory birds fly along this route initially.

Andaman Islands route

Apart from the above-mentioned two routes there is still another route to the North Eastern coast of Sri Lnaka, which is the Andaman Islands flying route. This route falls across the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean. It is believed that these migratory birds arrive in Sri Lanka along this route from south East Asia and the East each year.

Each year the migratory season commences in October and ends in April – May in the following year. Very often, the birds take the same route they arrived. However, some birds return along different routes.

The departure of these birds flying across Kalpitiya in large flocks is a fascinating sight. The beauty of thousands of birds departing at the same time from dew-drop shaped Jaffna as they leave the country is an unforgettable memory, etched in the minds of those who experience this splendid sight.