Sri Lanka Swallow
Once treated as a race of the Red-rumped Swallow. The richer colour of the underside is the clue, and it can only be seen when the bird banks.
Black-capped Bulbul
A clear, sweet song from the scrub. The black cap is the sign of a bird that lives only here.
Sri Lanka Drongo
Often heard first, leading the mixed feeding flocks of the rainforest. It copies the calls of other birds, so check what you think you heard.
Sri Lanka Blue Magpie
The most colourful bird of the rainforest is also one of the most easily lost in it. Blue disappears quickly in deep shade.
Crimson-fronted Barbet
Small enough to sit in full view and still go unnoticed. It also goes by the name Sri Lanka Small Barbet.
Yellow-fronted Barbet
Heard everywhere in the hills, hard to find among the leaves. Follow the call up the trunk, then wait for it to move.
Red-backed Flameback
A garden bird many Sri Lankans see every week, and it lives nowhere else on Earth.
Crimson-backed Flameback
Compare it with the Red-backed Flameback. The bill colour tells them apart, and few people ever check.
Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill
A hornbill with no casque, easily overlooked for that reason. Listen for the wingbeats overhead.
Chestnut-backed Owlet
An owl that keeps daylight hours. Small birds mobbing a branch are often the only clue that it is there.