Dull-blue Flycatcher
Dull only in name. In shade it looks grey, and one step into the sun it is blue.
Spot-winged Thrush
It sings from the shadows at first and last light, when the forest is at its darkest. Bring patience and a very high ISO.
Sri Lanka Myna
Compare the wattles with those of the common Hill Myna. They are smaller and sit further back, and that is how you know.
Orange-billed Babbler
This noisy group is the heart of the Sinharaja mixed flock. When you find it, stop looking at it and start looking around it.
Legge’s Flowerpecker
It keeps to the high canopy, so most sightings start as a tiny shape against the sky. Be patient, and let the colour arrive.
Sri Lanka Bush Warbler
Possibly the plainest bird on this list, which is why it is the one that teaches you most. It keeps to the dense undergrowth of the highest forests.
Chestnut-backed Owlet
An owl that keeps daylight hours. Small birds mobbing a branch are often the only clue that it is there.