Endemic birds of Sri Lanka
Every species. One island.
These birds live nowhere else on Earth. Search for a species, or filter the collection by habitat or by family group, then open a bird to see it whole.
34 species
Habitat
Family
Questions birders ask
How many endemic birds does Sri Lanka have?
It depends on the checklist. Published lists give between 33 and 35 species, because taxonomists keep re-examining birds once treated as races of mainland species. The Sri Lanka Shama, split from the White-rumped Shama in 2022, is the most recent addition. This collection follows the current list and is updated as it changes.
Where is the best place to see them?
Sinharaja Forest Reserve and Kitulgala hold most of the wet-zone endemics. The highest forests around Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains hold the hill specialists, such as the Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush and Sri Lanka Bush Warbler.
What do the status labels mean?
Each species carries its category on the IUCN Red List. Least Concern and Near Threatened birds are not at immediate risk; Vulnerable and Endangered birds are considered threatened with extinction, most often because their forest is shrinking.