Bird Watching

The bird life of Sri Lanka is very rich for its size, and about 496 species have been recorded. In addition to the many resident birds, a considerable number of migratory species winter in the country to escape their northern breeding grounds.

233 species are resident, of which the most important are the 27 endemics, with 7 more proposed. The other resident species are also found in the adjacent Indian mainland, but over 80 have developed distinct Sri Lankan races. Some of these races are very different in their plumage characteristics from the related forms in India

Bird distribution in Sri Lanka is largely determined by its climatic zones. The dry zone is largest of the three, covering more than half of the area of the island, with a prolonged dry and hot period and only one monsoon (the northeast monsoon from October to January).

The wet zone, with two monsoons, is in the southwestern quarter of the island, where the few remaining rain forests are found and humidity is high.

The central hill zone rises to over 2450 m (8-10,000 ft) and has a cool temperate climate. Most of the 26 endemic species are confined to the wet and the hill zones, with only a few extending into the dry zone as well. Our tours are accompanied by professional leaders with the knowledge and experience to make your birding expedition wholly successful. They are organized by a team who are friendly, competent, highly skilled at finding and identifying birds and has an unparalleled knowledge of Sri Lanka’s wild life. Our tours range from complete beginners to experienced and expert birders, the only requirement is the desire to devote time for birding. The wet zone, with two monsoons, is in the southwestern quarter of the island, where the few remaining rain forests are found and humidity is high.