Bird of sri lanka-Sri Lanka Spotted-winged Thrush

The Spot-winged Thrush, Zoothera spiloptera, is an Asian Thrush; It is an endemic resident breeder in Sri Lanka. This uncommon species breeds in hill rainforests, and to a lesser extent in drier woodlands, at altitudes between 500 and 2000 metres. The wintering areas are similar but include less well-wooded areas, and are generally at 750 to 1500 metres altitude. The Spot-winged Thrush is generally solitary, and like many Zoothera thrushes, can be quite secretive, especially in the dense undergrowth and bamboo clumps it favours. 

Spot-winged Thrushes are omnivorous, but eat far more insects than fruit. They feed on the ground. Spot-winged Thrush; identified by its olive-brown upper parts, two rows of white spots on the median and greater wing coverts, characteristic markings on the face and inverted fan shaped black spots on the breast and flanks. Sexes are similar. Young have paler streaked upper parts and buff lower parts with coalescing spots. The characteristic facial pattern is present in the young but is more indistinct.

Not uncommon in damp, evergreen forest in the wet lowlands and ranging up to 2000 metres (commoner below 1500 metres). Also occurs in secondary scrub, plantations and occasionally gardens adjacent to forest. It is scarce and local in the dry zone occurring in riverine forests.

This is a terrestrial species which feeds mostly on the ground in the typical thrush manner, turning over leaves vigorously. Birds are often met with in the mornings and evenings feeding along jungle trails. This thrush has a quaint habit of perching on slight elevations or twigs on the ground. The Spotted-winged Thrush is a beautiful songster, singing with a variety of human sounding rich whistling notes. It also utters a thin, high pitched call when alarmed or as a warning to its mate. Food consists of insects, worms etc but the bird probably feeds on berries as well.

The species is double brooded. Nests are met with in March-April and again in August-November. The nest is generally placed in a low exposed fork of a sapling or small tree at a height from 4-8 feet within the forest. The nest looks like a mass of jungle debris collected in a fork comprising of dead and decaying leaves, stems etc with a small tolerably neat cup in the center lined with fine rootlets and leaf midribs. The rim is often finished with moss. Where moss is plentiful more of it is used in the construction of the nest.

The eggs are generally two in number. The ground colour varies from pale cream-buff to pale grey-green, profusely covered with small spots, blotches and streaks of light reddish brown all over with some underlying markings of lavender-pink. Both birds probably incubate and feed the young. Sinharaja and Kithulgala forest reserves are two locations where this species can be observed easily.

English Name: - Sri Lanka Spotted-winged Thrush 
Sinhala Name: - Lanka Thithpiya Thirasikaya 
Scientific Name: - Zoothera spiloptera 

Bird of sri lanka-Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush

The Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush; Zoothera imbricata is a member of the thrush family Turdidae. This bird is a non-migratory resident breeder found in south western wetlands of the island of Sri Lanka. Zoothera imbricata is usually treated as a race of Z. dauma or the White's Thrush. It belongs in a group, possibly a super species, formed by that species and Z. lunulata, Z. heinei, Z. machiki, Z. talaseae, Z. margaretae etc., Z. imbricata being smaller, longer billed and Rufous below.

Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush is 24 cm. Olive brown above heavily scaled with black. Whitish throat; the rest of the under parts are tawny buff heavily scaled black, with whitish on belly and vent. Bill is rather large, blackish with paler lower mandible. Similar spp. the only other species of Zoothera thrush in the species’ range, Spot-winged Ground-thrush Zoothera spiloptera lacks scaling on the back and is white rather than tawny coloured below. Voice song is a series of prolonged, single, sibilant, rich whistles. Not loud but far-carrying.

Distribution and population of Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush; Zoothera imbricata occurs in the Wet Zone of south-west Sri Lanka. Its population is thought to be moderately small as it is reportedly uncommon. It resides in moist evergreen forests from 400 to 2,200 m within the 'Wet Zone' of Sri Lanka. A recent record suggests the species also inhabits forest in the 'Intermediate Zone'. Also recorded from plantations, copses and parks

English Name: - Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush
Sinhala Name: – Pethi-gomara Wal-avichchiya
Scientific Name: - Zoothera imbricata

Bird of sri lanka-Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush

The Sri Lanka Whistling-thrush, Myiophoneus blighi, is a whistling thrush in the thrush family Turdidae. It is a resident endemic bird in Sri Lanka. In Sinhala, Sri Lanka Whistling-thrush is called Lanka Arangaya.

It is found in the highlands of Sri Lanka in jungle or other dense forest near water and is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, frogs, earthworms and berries. It lays one or two eggs in a neat cup-shaped nest in a bush or on a ledge near water. Sri Lanka Whistling-thrush does not form flocks, although several birds may be loosely associated in suitable habitat.
This is a small whistling thrush; at only 20 cm. Adult males are dark blue with a darker head and back. There are bright blue patches on the shoulders, super cilia and forehead. The female is brown above and chestnut below, but has a bright blue shoulder patch like the male. The male sings its simple whistling song from trees, usually in deep cover.
This is a notoriously difficult species to see, even when the males are singing in the breeding season, which starts in February. It is very shy, scarce, localised and declining due to habitat loss. Perhaps the best chance is at dawn at Horton Plains National Park, 2000m up in the highlands of Sri Lanka.

English Name: - Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush 
Sinhala Name: - Lanka Arangaya 
Scientific Name: - Myiophoneus blighi

Bird of sri lanka--Sri Lanka Dull Blue Flycatcher

The Dull-blue Flycatcher, Eumyias sordida, is a small passerine bird in the flycatcher family Muscicapidae. This species is an endemic resident breeder in the hills of central Sri Lanka. The Dull-blue Flycatcher breeds in deciduous mountain forest, invariably above 600 metres, although it is not common below 900 metres. The main breeding season is in March and April, but a second brood is often reared later in the year.

The cup-shaped nest is a lined compact mass of moss. The site is usually a well-shaded rock ledge. The normal clutch is two or three brown-spotted pink eggs are laid. One of the best places to see this species is Horton Plains National Park. This species is 15 cm long. It is similar in shape to the Spotted Flycatcher and has a loud melodic song. Adults are ashy blue, with a whitish belly. There is a black patch between the broad black bill and the eye, bordered with brighter blue above and below. Sexes are similar, but females are slightly duller. Juvenile Dull-blue Flycatchers are brown, heavily spotted on the head, back, wing-coverts and breast with pale buff; their flight feathers are broadly edged with blue-grey.

This is relatively easy bird to see, despite its forest habitat. It feeds mainly on flying insects, beetles, caterpillars and other insects, but also eats berries.

English Name: - Sri Lanka Dull Blue Flycatcher 
Sinhala Name: - Lanka Andurunil-Masimara 
Scientific Name: - Eumyias sordida

Bird of sri lanka- Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot

The Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot (Loriculus beryllinus) is a small parrot which is a resident endemic breeder in Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, this bird is known as Gira Maliththa or Pol Girwa in Sinhala Language. Hanging Parrot appears in a 15c Sri Lankan postal stamp.

Identification 

This is a small, mainly green hanging parrot, only 14 cm long with a short tail. The adult has a red crown, rump and bill, and an orange tint to its back. Immature birds lack the orange hue to the back, have a duller rump, and have only a hint of orange on the crown.

Behaviour 

Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot is less gregarious than some of its relatives, and is usually alone or in small groups outside the breeding season. Its flight is swift and direct, and the call is a sharp whistled twiwittwit..twitwitwit. The lorikeet is a convivial little bird, delighting in juicy fruits, the nectar of flowers (especially red cotton), and the juice of palms collected in toddy-drawers’ pots. Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot is a bird of open forest. It is strictly arboreal, never descending to the ground. It nests in holes in trees, laying 2-3 white eggs in the first half of the year, and sometimes again in July-September. Its breeding habits are highly remarkable.

Locations 

Forrest, gardens. Breeding Ground is mostly around the Country. Common.

Bird of sri lanka--Sri Lanka Green Billed Coucal

The Green-billed Coucal, Centropus chlororhynchus, is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes, which also includes the roadrunners, the anis, and the Hoatzin. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. The Green-billed Coucal is a rare and shy species of the tall rainforests of southwest Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, this bird is known as Bata Etikukula or, Wal Etikukula in Sinhala Language. This bird appears in a 20 rupee Sri Lankan postal stamp.

Identification 

This is a large species at 43 cm. Its head and body are purple-black, the wings are maroon above and black below, and the long tail is dark green. The bill is a distinctive light green. Sexes are similar, but juveniles are duller and streaked.

Behaviour 

A very shy and elusive bird, it is far better known by its calls than by sight but, wherever the wet-zone forests have been spared the axe, it is still fairly common; its range, however, is rapidly dwindling and as it shows no sign of being able to adjust itself to new conditions, there can be no doubt that its days will soon be numbered – unless wise foresight reserves extensive forest sanctuaries in the wet zone.  

It nests in a bush, and the typical clutch is 2-3 eggs. The Green-billed Coucal takes a wide range of insects, caterpillars and small vertebrates, but snails are a favourite. It occasionally eats other food items. This species is somewhat smaller and less contrasted than the widespread Greater Coucal. Despite its size and distinctive call, this is a difficult species to see because of the dense habitat in which it lives and its retiring nature.

Locations 

Undisturbed forests. Associated with bamboo and cane rushes. Breeding ground is in Low Country wet zones & wet foothills. More often heard than seen.