Sri Lanka is home to 34 endemicbird species.[1] The number of bird species recorded in the island is 492 of which 219 are breeding residents. BirdLife International recognize Sri Lanka as one of the world's Endemic Bird Areas (EBAs).[2] The number of endemic species has changed over the years.[3] This is largely due to "close taxonomic revisions". The number of endemic species has fluctuated from 20 to 47.[1] Since 1977 the number has settled at around 21. The figure was increased to 23 in 1990. Many authorities have accepted this figure since then.[3] Wijesinghe published A Checklist of the Birds of Sri Lanka in 1994 which considered the addition of three more species, but this move did not receive widespread recognition because its rationale was not in keeping with rigorous taxonomic practice. Subsequent publications on the avifauna of Sri Lanka and the South Asia region have not listed these three as endemics. However, within some Sri Lankan circles considered the endemics proposed by Wijesinghe as acceptable. This may be due to an over-enthusiasm in increasing endemic numbers to create a better ornithological image and increase the demand for commercial birdwatching.[3]
In 2004, Deepal Warakagoda and Pamela C. Rasmussen described a new bird species, the Serendib scops-owl (Otus thilohofmanni). This is the first new bird species discovered in Sri Lanka since 1868, when the Sri Lanka whistling-thrush (Myophonus blighi) was described.[4] There are some proposals for species level taxonomic revisions, and therefore endemic status in Sri Lanka.[1] The country prefix "Sri Lanka" in common names is normally restricted to endemic species. However Sarath Kotagama et al. (2006) disagree with Sibley and Monroe (1990) on the use of "Ceylon" in common species' names, suggesting instead that they should reflect the change of the official English name of the island from Ceylon to name Sri Lanka.[3] Sibley and Monroe's rationale was "Ceylon" is the geographical unit and "Sri Lanka" is the country which occupies the island. The geographical name is normally used for animal ranges, for example Madagascar is used rather than its nation, the Malagasy Republic."[3]
Change in number of endemics
Year
Number of species
Reference
Comment
1872
37
Holdsworth – Catalogue of Birds found in Ceylon
1880
47
Legge – A History of Birds of Ceylon
Included 17 species in the present list
1931
25
Wait – Manual of Birds of Ceylon
Excluded the red faced-malkoha
1944
22
Whistler – Avifaunal Survey of Ceylon
1946
20
Ripley – Comments to Endemic Birds of Ceylon
Grey hornbill, rufous babbler and red-faced malkoha were excluded
1952
21
Phillips – Revised Checklist of Birds of Ceylon
Red-faced malkoha and Ceylon grackle included
1975
20
Phillips – Revised Checklist of Birds of Ceylon
Black capped bulbul excluded
1977
21
Flemming – Notes On Endemic Birds of Ceylon
Rufous babbler included
1978
21
Phillips – Revised Checklist of Birds of Ceylon
1990
23+1
Sibley & Monroe – Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World
Crimson fronted barbet suggested as endemic
1994
23+1
Kotagama and Fernando – A Field Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka
Follow Sibley and Monroe
1994
23+3
Wijesinghe – A Checklist of the Birds of Sri Lanka
Three species are suggested as endemic
1996
23+3
Inskip et al. – An Annotated Checklist of the Birds of the Oriental Region
Follow Sibley and Monroe refers to Wijesinghe
1998
23
Grimmett et al. – Birds of the Indian Subcontinent
1999
23
Harrison – A Field Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka
2013
26
Kotagama – A Field Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka (revised)
Crimson-fronted barbet, pompadour green pigeon and black-capped bulbul included
Source: Kotagama et al., 2013
Endemic species
Species which are validly published are considered as definitive endemic species.[1] Others are included with question marks.
Rasmussen and Anderton (2005) proposed a number of species splits. Those that would create new endemic species for Sri Lanka are listed below along with their present taxon.[1]
Accipiter is a genus of birds of prey in the family Accipitridae. With 49 recognized species it is the most diverse genus in its family. Most species are called goshawks or sparrowhawks, although with the exception of the American goshawk almost all New World species are simply known as "hawks". They can be anatomically distinguished from their relatives by the lack of a procoracoid foramen. Two small and aberrant species usually placed here do possess a large procoracoid foramen and are also distinct as regards DNA sequence. They may warrant separation in the old genus Hieraspiza.
The Malabar trogon is a species of bird in the trogon family. It is found in the forests of India and Sri Lanka. In India it is mainly found in the Western Ghats, hill forests of central India and in parts of the Eastern Ghats. They are insectivorous and although not migratory, may move seasonally in response to rain in hill forest regions. Like in other trogons, males and females vary in plumage. The birds utter low guttural calls that can be heard only at close quarters and the birds perch still on a branch under the forest canopy, often facing away from the viewer making them easy to miss despite their colourful plumage.
The Sri Lanka blue magpie or Ceylon magpie is a brightly coloured member of the family Corvidae, found exclusively in Sri Lanka. This species is adapted to hunting in the dense canopy, where it is highly active and nimble. Its flight is rather weak, though, and is rarely used to cover great distances. In spite of the Sri Lanka blue magpie's ability to adapt to the presence of humans, it is classified as vulnerable to extinction due to the fragmentation and destruction of its habitat of dense primary forest in the wet zone of southern Sri Lanka.
The red-faced malkoha is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes. This malkoha species is endemic to Sri Lanka
The Sri Lanka bush warbler, also known as Ceylon bush warbler or Palliser's warbler, is an Old World warbler which is an endemic resident breeder in Sri Lanka, where it is the only bush warbler.
The chestnut-backed owlet, is an owl which is endemic to Sri Lanka. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most of the smaller owl species. This species was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the jungle owlet.
Layard's parakeet is a parrot which is a resident endemic breeder in Sri Lanka. The common name of this bird commemorates the British naturalist Edgar Leopold Layard; his first wife, Barbara Anne Calthrop, whom he married in 1845, is commemorated in the specific epithet.
Legge's flowerpecker or the white-throated flowerpecker, is a small passerine bird. It is an endemic resident breeder in Sri Lanka. It is named after the Australian ornithologist William Vincent Legge.
The Serendib scops owl is the most recently discovered bird of Sri Lanka. It was originally located by its unfamiliar poo-ooo call in the Kitulgala rainforest by prominent Sri Lankan ornithologist Deepal Warakagoda. Six years later, it was finally seen by him on 23 January 2001 in Sinharaja, and formally described as a species new to science in 2004. Apart from Sinharaja and Kitulgala, it has also been found at Runakanda Reserve in Morapitiya and Eratna Gilimale. It is known as පඩුවන් බස්සා in Sinhala.
The whistling ducks or tree ducks are a subfamily, Dendrocygninae, of the duck, goose and swan family of birds, Anatidae. In other taxonomic schemes, they are considered a separate family, Dendrocygnidae. Some taxonomists list only one genus, Dendrocygna, which contains eight living species, and one undescribed extinct species from Aitutaki of the Cook Islands, but other taxonomists also list the white-backed duck under the subfamily.
Duttaphrynus kotagamai is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae endemic to Sri Lanka. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests, moist montane forests, and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss. D. kotagamaii is named after Sarath Kotagama. A grown male is 33–40 mm in length, while a female reaches 55–63 mm. It is nocturnal, and lives commonly under rocks or decomposed leaves. It is found in Massena, Kitulgala, and Singharaja forests. Its diet consists of termites and grasshoppers. Its breeding biology has not been recorded, but it presumably takes place in water, probably in streams.
Vidya Jyothi Sarath Wimalabandara Kotagama is a Sri Lankan ornithologist and environmentalist. He is a Professor Emeritus and former head of the Department of Zoology, University of Colombo.
The wildlife of Sri Lanka includes its flora and fauna and their natural habitats. Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of biological endemism.
Bundala National Park is an internationally important wintering ground for migratory water birds in Sri Lanka. Bundala harbors 197 species of birds, the highlight being the greater flamingo, which migrate in large flocks. Bundala was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and redesignated to a national park on 4 January 1993. In 1991 Bundala became the first wetland to be declared as a Ramsar site in Sri Lanka. In 2005 the national park was designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, the fourth biosphere reserve in Sri Lanka. The national park is situated 245 kilometres (152 mi) southeast of Colombo.
The Sri Lanka scimitar babbler or Ceylon scimitar babbler is an Old World babbler. It is endemic to the island of Sri Lanka, and was formerly treated as a subspecies of Indian scimitar babbler. The nominate form is found in the western part of wet hill regions of Sri Lanka, while race holdsworthi is found in the dry lowlands and eastern hills.
The Sri Lanka thrush or Sri Lanka scaly thrush is a member of the thrush family Turdidae. This bird is a non-migratory resident breeder found in south western rainforests of the island of Sri Lanka.
Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, commonly abbreviated FOGSL, is the Sri Lankan affiliate of BirdLife International. It was founded in 1976 to promote the conservation of birds and preservation of the environment. FOGSL headquarters are situated in the Department of Zoology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Its president is Professor Nihal Dayawansa.
Galway's Land National Park is a small 27 ha (0.10 sq mi) national park, consisting of dense montane forest. It is located within the city limits of Nuwara Eliya in Sri Lanka, approximately 2 km (1 mi) east of the city centre. It was formally declared as a wildlife sanctuary on 27 May 1938. The Galway's Land was elevated to national park status on 18 May 2006. The park was declared to conserve the montane ecosystems. Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka considers that Victoria Park in Nuwara Eliya and Galway's Land are two of the most significant birding sites in Sri Lanka. Galway's Land harbours about 20 rare migrant bird species and 30 native species. Apart from the avifauna, the park has valuable floral species of both native and foreign origin. Galway Forest Lodge is located close to the park.
↑ "BirdLife EBA Factsheet". BirdLife's online World Bird Database: the site for bird conservation. BirdLife International. 2003. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
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