Bird Watching Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is one of the best places in the world to watch birds and is truly a paradise for all Bird Watching enthusiasts. The activity becomes more common especially around the bird sanctuaries and wetland reserves in the south east part of the island while the temperate climate is ideal for migrating birds. Bird Watching in Sri Lanka.
The tropical climate and exotic landscape of the paradise isle of Sri Lanka makes it a true haven for bird lovers who arrive from all over the world. Sri Lanka is home to more than 400 bird species with around 23 endemics and 200 migratory birds arriving from India, Siberia, Scandinavia and Western Europe. The best time for Bird Watching enthusiasts to visit the island is towards the latter part of the year. In fact the month of December has been declared as the National Bird Month by the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, the national affiliate of Bird Life International. There are many bird sanctuaries spread throughout the island which includes the Kumana National Park, the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary, the Bodhinagala Sanctuary and Udawatte Kele to name a few. Many activities are organized during the National Bird Month for the public, exposing them to the treasures of bird life.
Sri Lanka is a birder's paradise. A tropical island in the Indian Ocean situated 10 degrees north of the equator, boasting of diverse and favourable climatic conditions and natural habitats such as forests, scrublands, grasslands, wetlands, seas and agricultural lands. The country is home to 439 species of birds of which 236 are breeding residents, 203 migrants and the rest vagrants. For a country as small as Sri Lanka having 33 endemic species and 68 endemic subspecies of birds with a species endemism of 11% goes to demonstrate why Sri Lanka is one of the finest Bird Watching Tours destinations in the world. This includes endemics such as Fowls, Pigeons, Parrots, Parakeets, Malkoha, Coucal, Owl, Owlet, Hornbill, Barbet, Magpie, Bulbul, Warbler, Babbler, Thrush, White-eye, Mynah, Starling, Flycatcher, Flowerpecker, Pigeon, Barbet, Flameback, Woodshrike, Drongo and Swallow.
In addition there are close to 200 seasonal migratory birds both terrestrial and aquatic, moving away from the Northern winter travelling from as far as Siberia, Scandinavia and Western Europe, arriving around August /September and leaving around April/May. Since Sri Lanka is situated at the farthest southern point away from the south of India with no other landmass until the South Pole, the migrating birds end their long journey in Sri Lanka, making it a regular wintering ground. Some of the migrants include the Openbill, Ibis, Heron, Egrets, Pelicans, Cormorant, Water-cock, Swamphen, Waterhen, Stilts, Duck and Grebe. So take a look at the recommended Bird Watching Tours in Sri Lanka we have for you designed by local Bird Watching Guides in Sri Lanka.
The main bird sanctuary in Sri Lanka is the Kumana National Park which is considered one of the most important nesting and breeding grounds in Sri Lanka. The Bundala national Park situated in the southernmost tip of the bird migratory route is a favourite birding ground where flocks of flamingos, herons and storks are a regular sight. The other places are the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary, Sinharaja Rain Forest, Bodinagala Forest Reserve, Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, Kitulgala Forest Reserve, Yala, Wilpattu, Udawalawe, Wagamuwa, Minneriya and Horton Plains National Parks in addition to numerous tanks, reservoirs, lagoons, marshes, lakes and rivers.
If you do not find the desired bird watching tour itinerary of Sri Lanka on the following recommended bird watching tours of Sri Lanka, please do write to us to tailor-make your Bird watching tour in Sri Lanka.
