List of endemic birds of Sri Lanka

Last updated

Sri Lanka is home to 34 endemic bird 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]

Contents

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

YearNumber of speciesReferenceComment
187237Holdsworth – Catalogue of Birds found in Ceylon
188047Legge – A History of Birds of CeylonIncluded 17 species in the present list
193125Wait – Manual of Birds of CeylonExcluded the red faced-malkoha
194422Whistler – Avifaunal Survey of Ceylon
194620Ripley – Comments to Endemic Birds of CeylonGrey hornbill, rufous babbler and red-faced malkoha were excluded
195221Phillips – Revised Checklist of Birds of CeylonRed-faced malkoha and Ceylon grackle included
197520Phillips – Revised Checklist of Birds of CeylonBlack capped bulbul excluded
197721Flemming – Notes On Endemic Birds of CeylonRufous babbler included
197821Phillips – Revised Checklist of Birds of Ceylon
199023+1Sibley & Monroe – Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the WorldCrimson fronted barbet suggested as endemic
199423+1Kotagama and Fernando – A Field Guide to the Birds of Sri LankaFollow Sibley and Monroe
199423+3Wijesinghe – A Checklist of the Birds of Sri LankaThree species are suggested as endemic
199623+3Inskip et al. – An Annotated Checklist of the Birds of the Oriental RegionFollow Sibley and Monroe refers to Wijesinghe
199823Grimmett et al. – Birds of the Indian Subcontinent
199923Harrison – A Field Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka
201326Kotagama – 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

The number has since increased to 27 with the Sri Lanka shama (Copsychus leggei) being split from white-rumped shama (Copsychus malabaricus) in 2022. [5]

Endemic species

Low vulnerabilityThreatened
Fl mammals lc.svg
Least concern
Fl mammals nt.svg
Near threatened
Fl mammals vu.svg
Vulnerable
Fl mammals en.svg
Endangered
Common nameBinomialFamilyHabitat, abundance, distributionStatus
Order Galliformes
Sri Lanka spurfowl

GalloperdixBicalcarataLegge.jpg

Galloperdix bicalcarata
(Forster, 1781)
Phasianidae Humid forests. Common. All zones, except northern region. [6]
Fl mammals lc.svg
[7]
Sri Lanka junglefowl

Thimindu 2009 09 04 Yala Sri Lanka Junglefowl 1.JPG

Gallus lafayetii
(Lesson, 1831)
Phasianidae Forests, scrub jungles. Very common. All zones. [6]
Fl mammals lc.svg
[8]
Order Columbiformes
Sri Lanka wood pigeon

Flickr - Rainbirder - Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon (Columba torringtoni) (1).jpg

Columba torringtoniae
(Kelaart, 1853)
Columbidae Forests, gardens. Restricted range. Hill country. Descends to low country wet zone during fruiting seasons. [9]
Fl mammals vu.svg
[10]
Sri Lanka green pigeon

Thimindu 2009 12 31 Kaudulla Pompadour Green Pigeon 1.jpg

Treron pompadora

(Gmelin, JF, 1789)

Columbidae
Fl mammals lc.svg
[11]
Order Psittaciformes
Sri Lanka hanging parrot

Loriculus beryllinus -Sri Lanka -adult-8.jpg

Loriculus beryllinus
(Pennant, 1781)
Psittacidae Forests, gardens. Common. All zones. More common in wet zone. [12]
Fl mammals lc.svg
[13]
Layard's parakeet

Psittacula calthropae -Sri Lanka -eating fruit-8.jpg

Psittacula calthrapae
(Blyth, 1849)
Psittacidae Forests, gardens. Common. Wet zone and some riparian forests dry zone. [12]
Fl mammals lc.svg
[14]
Order Cuculiformes
Red-faced malkoha

Red-faced Malkoha x.jpg

Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus
(Pennant, 1769)
Cuculidae Forests. Confined to undisturbed forest areas in the wet zone and riparian forests of the dry zone. Restricted location. All zones. [15]
Fl mammals vu.svg
[16]
Green-billed coucal

Green-billed coucal.jpg

Centropus chlororhynchos
(Blyth, 1849)
Cuculidae Undisturbed forests. Associated with bamboo and cane rushes. Restricted range. Low country wet zone and wet foothills. [17]
Fl mammals vu.svg
[18]
Order Strigiformes
Sri Lanka Serendib scops-owl

Serendib scops owl JpG.jpg

Otus thilohoffmanni
(Warakagoda & Rasmussen, 2004)
Strigidae Restricted range. Low country wet zone. [19]
Fl mammals en.svg
[20]
Sri Lanka chestnut-backed owlet

8W0A8337.jpg

Glaucidium castanotum
(Blyth, 1851)
Strigidae Forests, scrubs, cultivations. Restricted range. Wet zone and hill country. [19]
Fl mammals nt.svg
[21]
Order Bucerotiformes
Sri Lanka grey hornbill

Sri Lanka grey hornbill (Ocyceros gingalensis).jpg

Ocyceros gingalensis
(Shaw, 1812)
Bucerotidae Forests, gardens. Very common. All zones. Most plentiful in dry zone. [22]
Fl mammals lc.svg
[23]
Order Piciformes
Crimson-backed flameback ChrysocolaptesStricklandiLegge.jpg Chrysocolaptes stricklandi

(Layard, 1854)

Picidae
Fl mammals lc.svg
[24]
Red-backed flameback

Red-backed flameback - August 2019.jpg

Dinopium psarodes

(Lichtenstein, AAH, 1793)

Picidae
Fl mammals lc.svg
[25]
Yellow-fronted barbet

Yellow-fronted Barbet at Bodhinagala.jpg

Psilopogon flavifrons
(Cuvier, 1816)
Megalaimidae Forests, home gardens. Very common. More common in hill country. [22]
Fl mammals lc.svg
[26]
Crimson-fronted barbet

Ceylon Small Barbet MSW.jpg

Psilopogon rubricapillus

(Gmelin, JF, 1788)

Megalaimidae
Fl mammals lc.svg
[27]
Order Passeriformes
Suborder Passeri: Songbirds
Sri Lanka blue magpie

Thimindu 2010 02 20 Sinharaja Sri Lanka Blue Magpie 1.jpg

Urocissa ornata
(Wagler, 1829)
Corvidae Undisturbed forests. Restricted range. Wet zone. [28]
Fl mammals vu.svg
[29]
Black-capped bulbul

Black-capped bulbul, (Pycnonotus melanicterus).jpg

Rubigula melanicterus

(Gmelin, JF, 1789)

Pycnonotidae
Fl mammals lc.svg
[30]
Yellow-eared bulbul

Pycnonotus penicillatus.jpg

Pycnonotus penicillatus
(Blyth, 1851)
Pycnonotidae Forests, gardens close to forest, Common. Hill country. [31]
Fl mammals nt.svg
[32]
Sri Lanka drongo

Sri Lanka drongo - Sri Lanka - 01.jpg

Dicrurus lophorinus

(Viellot, 1817)

Dicruridae
Fl mammals lc.svg
[33]
Sri Lanka bush-warbler

Flickr - Rainbirder - Ceylon bush warbler (Bradypterus palliseri) (cropped).jpg

Elaphrornis palliseri
(Blyth, 1851)
Sylviidae Forest undergrowth. Restricted range. Hill country. [34]
Fl mammals nt.svg
[35]
Sri Lanka brown-capped babbler

Flickr - Rainbirder - Brown-capped Babbler (Pellorneum fuscocapillum) (cropped).jpg

Pellorneum fuscocapillus
(Blyth, 1849)
Timaliidae Forests, scrub jungles. Ground level. Common. All zones. [36]
Fl mammals lc.svg
[37]
Sri Lanka scimitar-babbler

Pomatorhinus melanurus, Sinharaja B48A8679 (cropped).jpg

Pomatorhinus melanurus
(Blyth, 1847)
Timaliidae Forests understory. Common. All zones. [36]
Fl mammals lc.svg
[38]
Orange-billed babbler

Orange-billed babbler (18909680320).jpg

Argya rufescens
(Blyth, 1847)
Timaliidae Forests. Common. Wet zone. Less in hill country. [36]
Fl mammals nt.svg
[39]
Ashy-headed laughingthrush

Ashy-headed Laughingthrush (Garrulax cinereifrons).jpg

Argya cinereifrons
(Blyth, 1851)
Timaliidae Forests, mainly in understory and on the ground. Common. Wet zone. More in low country. [36]
Fl mammals vu.svg
[40]
Sri Lanka white-eye

Sri Lanka Hill White-Eye.jpg

Zosterops ceylonensis
(Holdsworth, 1872)
Zosteropidae Forests, gardens, cultivations. Very common. Hill country. [41]
Fl mammals lc.svg
[42]
Sri Lanka myna

Flickr - Rainbirder - Ceylon Myna (Gracula ptilogenys).jpg

Gracula ptilogenys
Blyth, 1846
Sturnidae Forests. Common. Wet zone. More common in Low country. [43]
Fl mammals nt.svg
[44]
White-faced starling

Flickr - Rainbirder - White-faced Starling (Sturnia albofrontata).jpg

Sturnus albofrontatus
(Layard, EL, 1854)
Sturnidae Forests. Restricted range. Wet zone. Less in hill country. [43]
Fl mammals vu.svg
[45]
Sri Lanka whistling-thrush

Myophonus blighi male.JPG

Myophonus blighi
(Holdsworth, 1872)
Turdidae Undisturbed montane forests, streams. Restricted range. Hill country. [46]
Fl mammals en.svg
[47]
Spot-winged thrush

Sri Lanka Spot-winged Thrush.jpg

Geokichla spiloptera
(Blyth, 1847)
Turdidae Humid forest undergrowth. Common. All zones. More common in wet zone. [46]
Fl mammals nt.svg
[48]
Sri Lanka thrush

Zoothera imbricata, Sinharaja, Sri Lanka 1.jpg

Zoothera imbricata
Layard, 1854
Turdidae Forests undergrowth. Common. Hill country, some locations in low country wet zone. [46]
Fl mammals nt.svg
[49]
Dull-blue flycatcher

Dull-blue flycatcher.jpg

Eumyias sordida
(Walden, 1870)
Muscicapidae Forests, home gardens, well-wooded ravines. Hill country. Also in humid locations in the low country wet zone. [50]
Fl mammals nt.svg
[51]
Legge's Flowerpecker

White-throated Flowerpecker.jpg

Dicaeum vincens
(Sclater, PL, 1872)
Dicaeidae Forests. Common. Low country wet zone and lower hill country. [41]
Fl mammals nt.svg
[52]
Sri Lanka woodshrike

Sri Lanka Woodshrike.jpg

Tephrodornis affinis

(Blyth, 1847)

Vangidae
Fl mammals lc.svg

[53]

Sri Lanka swallow

Cecropis hyperythra, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka 1.jpg

Cecropis hyperythra

(Blyth, 1849)

Hirundinidae A variety of open country habitats in both the lowlands and foothills in Sri Lanka, including farm fields and lightly wooded areas. [54]
Fl mammals lc.svg

[55]

Sri Lanka Shama

White-rumped-shama-yala-sri-lanka-casey-klebba.jpg

Copsychus leggei

(Whistler, 1941)

Muscicapidae Not Evaluated

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kaluthota, C. D.; Kotagama, S.W. (October 2009). "Revised Avifaunal List of Sri Lanka" (PDF). Occasional Paper No.02. Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka.
  2. "BirdLife EBA Factsheet". BirdLife's online World Bird Database: the site for bird conservation. BirdLife International. 2003. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Kotagama, Sarath W.; De Silva, Rex I.; Wijayasinha, Athula S.; Abeygunawardane, Vathsala (2006). "Avifaunal List of Sri Lanka". In Bambaradeniya, C.N.B. (ed.). Fauna of Sri Lanka: Status of Taxonomy, Research and Conservation (PDF). The World Conservation Union, Colombo, Sri Lanka & Government of Sri Lanka. pp. 164–203. ISBN   955-8177-51-2.
  4. Warakagoda, Deepal (January–February 2001). "Discovery of a new species of owl in Sri Lanka" (PDF). CBCN. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  5. Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, M. Smith, and C. L. Wood. (2024). The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2024.
  6. 1 2 Kotagama 2006: p. 44
  7. BirdLife International (2009). "Galloperdix bicalcarata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  8. BirdLife International (2009). "Gallus lafayetii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  9. Kotagama 2006: p. 62
  10. BirdLife International (2008). "Columba torringtoniae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  11. BirdLife International (2009). "Treron pompadora". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  12. 1 2 Kotagama 2006: p. 54
  13. BirdLife International (2009). "Loriculus beryllinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  14. BirdLife International (2009). "Psittacula calthropae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  15. Kotagama 2006: p. 52
  16. BirdLife International (2008). "Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  17. Kotagama 2006: p. 50
  18. BirdLife International (2008). "Centropus chlororhynchus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  19. 1 2 Kotagama 2006: p. 58
  20. BirdLife International (2008). "Otus thilohoffmanni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  21. BirdLife International (2008). "Glaucidium castanonotum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  22. 1 2 Kotagama 2006: p. 48
  23. BirdLife International (2009). "Ocyceros gingalensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  24. International), BirdLife International (BirdLife (1 October 2016). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Chrysocolaptes stricklandi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  25. International), BirdLife International (BirdLife (1 October 2016). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Dinopium psarodes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  26. BirdLife International (2009). "Megalaima flavifrons". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  27. BirdLife International (2009). "Megalaima rubricapillus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  28. Kotagama 2006: p. 72
  29. BirdLife International (2008). "Urocissa ornata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  30. BirdLife International (2009). "Pycnonotus melanicterus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  31. Kotagama 2006: p. 82
  32. BirdLife International (2008). "Pycnonotus penicillatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  33. International), BirdLife International (BirdLife (1 October 2016). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Dicrurus lophorinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  34. Kotagama 2006: p. 84
  35. BirdLife International (2008). "Bradypterus palliseri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  36. 1 2 3 4 Kotagama 2006: p. 90
  37. BirdLife International (2009). "Pellorneum fuscocapillus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  38. BirdLife International (2009). "Pomatorhinus melanurus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  39. BirdLife International (2008). "Turdoides rufescens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  40. BirdLife International (2008). "Garrulax cinereifrons". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  41. 1 2 Kotagama 2006: p. 88
  42. BirdLife International (2009). "Zosterops ceylonensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  43. 1 2 Kotagama 2006: p. 80
  44. BirdLife International (2008). "Gracula ptilogenys". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  45. BirdLife International (2008). "Sturnus albofrontatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  46. 1 2 3 Kotagama 2006: p. 78
  47. BirdLife International (2008). "Myophonus blighi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  48. BirdLife International (2008). "Zoothera spiloptera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  49. BirdLife International (2008). "Zoothera imbricata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  50. Kotagama 2006: p. 76
  51. BirdLife International (2008). "Eumyias sordidus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  52. BirdLife International (2008). "Dicaeum vincens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  53. International), BirdLife International (BirdLife (1 October 2016). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Tephrodornis affinis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  54. "Sri Lanka Swallow – eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  55. International), BirdLife International (BirdLife (1 October 2016). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Cecropis hyperythra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 6 October 2020.

Literature cited