WATCHING BIRDS IN SRI LANKA
BIRD TOPOGRAPHY
To get to grips with identifying birds, it is very useful to learn the topographical terms for the parts
and plumage areas of a bird. The following terms for birds' body parts are often
used throughout the text.
*********************************
FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER
(Puffinus carneipes)
DESCRIPTION
Tail shorter and more rounded than that of
Wedge-tailed Shearwater. Legs ad feet pink, but not
diagnostic as this characteristic is shared with
Wedge-tailed. Stout pink bill with dark tip the best
field characteristic. In flight in good light,
primaries are supposed to show pale patch.
HABITAT
Pelagic
DISTRIBUTION
Arrives just before south-west monsoon in around early to mid-April. Conditions are too rough to go out to sea on the west coast from late April, so there is an absence of records
after this time.
*********************************
LITTLE GREBE
(Tachybaptus ruficollis capensis)
DESCRIPTION
In breeding plumage neck and cheeks turn
deep chestnut. Crown and upper half of face
turn black. Gape develops pale patch that can
look luminescent green at close range.
In non-breeding plumage colors
are duller. Sexes similar.
HABITAT
Lowland freshwater lakes. Common
bird in aquatic habitats, but easily
overlooked because of its small size and discreet habits. At times teams of Little Grebes gather to form rafts that may hold over a hundred birds ; lakes in Annaiwilundawa are a good site to see this phenomenon.
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread in lowlands. Scarce in hills, although present on Lake Gregory in Nuwara Eliya in highlands. VOICE Whinnying call that is heard most frequently during breeding season.
*********************************
(Eudynamys scolopacea scolopacea)
DESCRIPTION
Male looks similar to a crow in glossy black plumage. However, ivory-coloured bill, red eyes and slimmer shape distinguish it from crows. Female brown, heavily barred and spotted with white.
HABITAT
Favours lightly wooded areas with fruiting
trees. Frequents gardens in cities.
Very partial to fruits of palms and ripening
papayas.
DISTRIBUTION
Throughout Sri Lanka.
VOICE
Series of ko wuu calls. About 7-8 notes
usually uttered very loudly, each rising in
pitch and sounding more insistent. Note can
change as they become somewhat tremulous. May also rapidly utter three ko wuu ko wuu ko wuu notes of even pitch. Sinhala name Koha somewhat onomatopoeic and derived from these ko wuu notes. Can also produce a cackle of a few kik kik notes. The author once observed a male calling for at least half an hour on and off, while another male was perched less than a metre away.
*********************************
GREAT CORMORANT
(Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis)
DESCRIPTION
Breeding adults have white flank~patches. In addition to pale area around bill, feathers on crown and on face surrounding bare skin around bill turn white. Thick crescent of black behind eye remains, providing a contrast. Birds look white headed from a distance.White edging coutinues on back of head and along neck. Patch of orange ~ coloured, bare facial skin below eyes with blue irides.
HABITAT
Lakes.
DISTRIBUTION
North ~ Central and Eastern Province.
*******************************
WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER
(Puffinus pacificus)
DESCRIPTION
Like Flesh footed Shearwater, this bird has
flesh-coloured feet. It's more slender, all dark
bill is the best feature that separates it from
Flesh-Footed. Wedge tail does not always
show well. Bill pattern the best field characteristic.
Also longer necked than Flesh-Footed, but this is
not always apparent.
HABITAT
Pelagic.
DISTRIBUTION
Arrives in around mid April before south-west
monsoon. Sightings peter out by end of April
when seas become too rough for birders to
go out in boat.
*******************************
PERSIAN SHEARWATER
(Puffinus persicus)
DESCRIPTION
Pale underparts and brown upperparts. Bill grey
with darker tip. In April 2010 a flock of 35
Persian Shearwaters was sighted.
HABITAT
Pelagic
DISTRIBUTION
Appears to arrive in around mid April before
south-west monsoon. Sightings peter out by
end of April, when seas become too rough for
birders to go out to sea.
*******************************
WESTERN REEF-HERON
(Egretta pularis schistacea)
DESCRIPTION
Occurs in dark and white morphs as well as in
intermediate forms. Grey morph grey all ober with
white chin. Note that Little Egret can also have a
grey morph. Best field characteristic is bill, which
is heavier than that of Little. Also yellow on feet in
Reef-Heron usually extends up to tibia, sometimes as
far up as hock joint. However, some Little Egrets have
yellow extending up feet beyond 'yellow slippers'.
HABITAT
Coastlines and Lagoons.
DISTRIBUTION
Coastal wetlands, but rare in southern half of
Sri Lanka. Most records are from Mannar and
in strip extending north from Kalpitiya
*******************************
GREAT EGRET
Egretta alba
DESCRIPTION
Separated from Intermediate Egret by gape line,
which extends behind eye. Largest of the egrets.
Yellow bill turns black in breeding plumage. At peak
of breeding season lores turn blue and tibia turns crimson
HABITAT
Large waterbodies and marshes in lowlands.
DISTRIBUTION
Common in lowlands, assends up to mid-hills.
VOICE
In flight often utters a low croak. Sometimes this is
voiced as a protest, at other times is is a contact call.
*******************************
LOTEN'S SUNDIRD
(Cinnyris lotenius)
DESCRIPTION
Breeding male glossy blue-black, at times iridescent
green on head and mantle. Distinguishable from similar
male Purple Sundird by chocolate-brown underparts.
In Purple they are glossy black. Female brownish-gray
above with yellow tinged, pale underparts.
Long, deeply curved bill, shorter in Purple.
HABITAT
Frequent visitor to gardens even in cities. Needs habitats
where nectaring plants are easily available, and a mix of
nectar and invertebrates. Young fed rich variety of
invertebrates, including spiders, caterpillars and similar,
DISTRIBUTION
Most common in wet zone.
VOICE
Series of loud, metallic notes vaguely transcribing as
chewp chewp used to announce it's presence. In flight
utters rapid chik chik chik. Sometimes utters
single-noted cheep cheep calls.
(Cinnyris lotenius)
DESCRIPTION
Breeding male glossy blue-black, at times iridescent
green on head and mantle. Distinguishable from similar
male Purple Sundird by chocolate-brown underparts.
In Purple they are glossy black. Female brownish-gray
above with yellow tinged, pale underparts.
Long, deeply curved bill, shorter in Purple.
HABITAT
Frequent visitor to gardens even in cities. Needs habitats
where nectaring plants are easily available, and a mix of
nectar and invertebrates. Young fed rich variety of
invertebrates, including spiders, caterpillars and similar,
DISTRIBUTION
Most common in wet zone.
VOICE
Series of loud, metallic notes vaguely transcribing as
chewp chewp used to announce it's presence. In flight
utters rapid chik chik chik. Sometimes utters
single-noted cheep cheep calls.
*******************************
COMMON KINGFISHER
(Alcedo atthis taprobana)
DESCRIPTION
Both mandibles in male are black, female has orange on most
of lower mandible. Orange er-coverts diagnostic and distinguish
this species from Blur-Eared KINGFISHER Alcedo meninting.
Lighter, bright blue stripe runs along back.
HABITAT
Widespread in lowlands and hills.Never far from water and
predominantly feeds on small fish, but also takes other aquatic
animals, including small crabs, amphibians and similar.
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread, from lowlands to highlands.
VOICE
High-pitched, metallic, repeated tee call, varying a little in pitch.
Call often announces its arrival, a tiny blue dart skimming over
the warer.
*******************************