Bird watching in Sri Lanka is a great experience. You will walk through jungles, nature trails, over small water streams. The best bird watchers plan their field trips well and prepared.

Sri Lanka 's abundant bird-life makes the island a true Ornithologist's paradise. Of the 427 recorded species, 250 are resident and 23 are endemic to the country. With such a variety of environments ranging from wet to dry zone, forest to jungle, and hill country to low lands, there's no end to the fascinating locations in which to spot many of these beautiful birds. Most of the endemic birds (such as the Sri Lankan grackle) are restricted to the wet zone, while birds such as the Sri Lanka whistling thrush and the yellow-eared bulbul reside in the hill country. Others, like the brilliantly plumaged jungle fowl, the striking red-faced malkoha and the shy brown-capped babbler can be found in forests and sanctuaries throughout the island. Among the best areas for sighting these birds are the SINHARAJA RAIN FOREST Reserve and the ADAM'S PEAK WILDERNESS SANCTUARY .

The large lakes (irrigation reservoirs) in the dry zone attract numerous varieties of duck, while larger aquatic birds such as stork, heron, egret, spoonbill, pelican, and ibis can easily be seen in the wetlands, especially at Wirawila, Kalametiya and BUNDALA NATIONAL PARK (which is also famed for its large flocks of migrant flamingoes). Around mid-August the first migratory species arrive in Sri Lanka . Large flocks of sandpipers, stints, plovers, terns and harriers fly over from Nothern India, Siberia, Scandinavia and Western Europe and settle along the lagoons and salterns of the eastern, north-western and south-eastern coasts. In the forested areas of Sri Lanka , birds like migratory tree warblers, thrushes and cuckoos can be seen.

Prepare your bird watching kit

Green, Khaki or Brown clothes give a better covering when you are hiding to watch birds, Hat, Binoculars, camera, Field guide book, Map and sketches Field tape recorder, Note book, pencil, A whistle

Bird watching locations

• Bellanvila
• Muthurajawela
• Sinharaja
• Kitulgala
• Udawatta Kale
• Minipe
• Minneriya
• Dambulla
• Ritigala
• Yapahuwa
• Yala
• Kumana
• Udawalawe
• Kandalama
• Sigiriya
• Hakgala Botanical Garden
• Victoria Park
• Horton Plains
• Tissamaharama
• Kalamatiya
  

Bellanvila

This urban wetland is famous for its abundant bird life. It consists of fresh water marshes, and natural and man-made canal system. One can walk along the edge of the canals or marshlands to observe many aquatic birds including Lesser Whistling Duck, Purple Swamphen, White breasted Waterhen, Whiskered Tern, Pin tailed Snipe and Little Green Heron. Apart from aquatic birds raptors such as Brahminy Kite and Marsh Harrier can commonly observed.

Bellanwila is an Ideal location for a Days Excursion from Colombo City or From Air Port. Although You could make it by foot to many places To see the best of go canooing and bird watching adventure. It's unlikely you will enjoy going in a motor boat as the birds will fly away for the sound. Using a small electric battery powered propeller is a wonderful idea currently used by one of the top bird watching professionals in Sri Lanka. Bellanwilla also a great habitat for fish, fauna and flora.

Birds : Lessor Whistling Duck, Purple Swamphen, White Brested Waterhen, Whiskered Tern, Pin tailed Snipe, Little Green Heron

How to get there : You can reach Bellanvila from Dehiwala coming from south, If you come from Ratnapura Road turn from Wijerama or Delkanda. From a Colombo city hotel it's about 12 km

Muthurajawela

How to get there :You can reach Muturajawela easily from katunayaka Airport or Going north from colombo.

Sinharaja (Sinharaja Natural World Heritage, Sabaragamuwa and Southern province)

With the sinhala meaning of LION KING, Sinharaja Rain Forest is declared a world heritage site by UNESCO since 1988 this is the most important site in Sri Lanka, internationally important for its biodiversity. The nnnnn Hectare forest reserve encompasses some of the few remaining sizeable tracts of undisturbed primary lowland rain forest. Much of the birding, however, is done in areas that were once subject to selective logging. You can observe over 15 species of endemic birds of the country.

Birds : Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Green billed Caucal, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Red faced Malkoha, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, White faced Starling, Sri Lanka Myna, Orange billed Babbler, Malabar trogon and Greater Racket tailed Drongo are among the many birds you can observe.

Other species recorded include 40 species of mammals, 65 species of Butterflies, 10 species of fish, 14 species of Amphibians and 29 species of reptiles. 50 % of the endemic mammals and butterflies are present at Sinharaja.

Sinharaja Has several rain forest hills that you can climb, water falls and an ancient cave of the lion. Usually your visit can be one day to five days watching birds and observing it's ecology. There are many fauna and flora only found in Sinharaja

How to get there : There are several routes you can take depending on where you are. Coming from Airport you can take the route via Paliayagoda, Awissawella, Ratnapura. Coming from down south Galle, Matara, Hikkaduwa you can take the route through deniyaya. If you are in Udawalawe you could also make it through deniyaya.

Kitulgala (Kelani Valley Forest Reserve, Kitulgala, Central Province)

Kitulgala is the place where the famous 'Bridge on the River Kwai' film was made. Kelani Valley forest reserve is established as a forest reserve to protect the watershed of Kelani River. It is home to many of Sri Lanka’s endemic fauna and flora. The forest is secondary lowland rainforest on the lower slope with the forest extending up to the higher elevations, contiguous with the Peak Wilderness sanctuary. Kitulgala also has several water falls and caves of Ancient times.

Red-faced Malkoha, Ashy-headed Laughing Thrush, Malabar Trogon, Lesser Yellow-naped, Pygmy and Crimson-Backed Woodpeckers and Spot-winged Thrush, White-faced Starling, Dollarbird and Chestnut-backed Owlet are among the birds you can observe.

How to get there : You can reach Kitulgala from Colombo or from Nuwaraeliya or from Ratnaputa or Kegalle.

Udawattakele Sanctuary, Kandy, Central Province

This is a trek of rainforest rich in species that has enjoyed protection from historical times. It supports many species of bird life. Some of the common birds are Layard’s Parakeet, Gold fronted and Blue winged Leafbirds, Spotted and Emerald Doves, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Yellow-fronted, Crimson-fronted and Brown headed barbrts and Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher.

If you wish you can do a city tour of Kandy in the evening. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings, and is a World Heritage Site. The name Kandy conjures visions of splendor and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive.

How to get there : Udawatta kale is situated just above the temple of Tooth Kandy.

Minipe

Minneriya

Dambulla

Ritigala

Yapahuwa

Yala National Park, Southern Province

Yala is the largest National Park in Sri Lanka and is the home of most of the large mammals of the country including wild elephants, wild boar, wild buffalo, leopard, bear and deer.
Sri Lankan Junglefowl and Peacock are common here. Raptors such as Changeable Hawk-eagle, White bellied Sea Eagle and Crested Serpent eagle are also commonly seen apart from many species of large flocks of migratory and indigenous birds.

How to get there : Yala is in the south east coast. You can reach from hill country, through ratnapura or by see route.

Kumana

Udawalawe

Kandalama Bird Watching, Dambulla , North Central Province

The 55 acre forest around the Kandalama Tank which contains the hotel, has a variety of trees, some 100 years or more in age, plus medicinal plants and a rich and varied bird life. Kandalama offers one of the best bird watching opportunities in the North Central Province. Nesting at the foot of Ereulagala (696m) and Dikkandahena (618m), the Kandalama tank and the hotel are situated at the Northern end of the Knuckles mountain range and at the beginning point of the intermediate zone and the dry zone, the environs are very rich in bird life.

The diversity in habitat and the tank provides the visitors the opportunity to observe around the hotel more than 145 species, which is almost one third of the total number of bird life in Sri Lanka. This consist of arboreal, terrestrial and aquatic birds including 4 endemic birds namely Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Sri Lanka Grey Horn-bill, and Brown-capped Babbler. One can also see many waders and raptors including Crested Serpent Eagle, white –bellied Sea Eagle, Little and Intermediate Egrets, Eurasian Openbill and Grey Heron.

How to get there : You can reach Kandalam from Dambulla going noth from Airport
It's close to Sigiriya the the 8th Wonder Rock fortress king Kashayapa.

Sigiriya

The 5th century Sigiriya rock fortress that is a world heritage site, built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The 'Lion Rock' is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 metres from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock.

If you are a keen bird watcher this is an ideal place for bird watching. Sigiriya is one of the best places in the country to see Shaheen Falcon, Emerald Dove, Orange breasted Green Pigeon, Racket tailed Drongo, Black headed Bulbul, Brown capped Babbler and Wooly necked Stork.

How to get there : You can reach sigiriya from dambulla north east of katunayaka Airport.

Royal Botanical Gardens, Hakgala , Nuwaraeliya, Central Province

This botanical garden was first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king and was expanded by the British. It is 147 acres in extent and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers. The diversity of trees creates diverse habitats for many species of birds such as Hill Mynah, Tickell’s Blue flycatcher, Magpie robin, black headed Oriole and endemic Sri Lanka Hanging parrot and Layard’s Parakeet.

How to get there : Hakgala is at few miles away from Nuwaraeliya on the Badulla Road.

Victoria Park , Nuwaraeliya, Central Province

Victoriya park in the heart of town that has gained a reputation for birds.
Eurasian Blackbird, Indian Blue robin, Pied thrush and Grey Tit are commonly seen.

How to get there : Located in Nuwaraeliya town

Horton Plains National Park, Nuwaraeliya, Central Province

vulets. This area is a home for Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush, Orange-billed Babbler, Yellow-eared Bulbul, black-throated Munia and many more birds.

If you like to enjoy the beauty of the area you can visit the 'World's End', considered to be the finest view in all of Sri Lanka. The awesome escarpment drops vertically for about 4,000 feet, hence its name. You can also see the beautiful Backer’s falls.

How to get there : You can reach horton plains from several directions. From Nuwaraeliya or From Talawakale.
The route from belihuloya on badulla road require four wheel drive vehicles. You also can reach horton palins from ohiya when travelling by train to Badulla. You also can reach Ohiya from Haputale on the Badulla Road.

Tissamaharama lake, Southern Province

Visit Tissa Lake and Debarawewa Lake for bird watching. Depending on the water level you will be able to see many waterbirds such as little cormorant , Indian shag, Purple Heron, Purple Coot, Wood Sandpiper, Caspian Tern and Painted Stork.

How to get there
You can reach horton plains from several directions. From Nuwaraeliya or From Talawakale.
The route from belihuloya on badulla road require four wheel drive vehicles. You also can reach horton palins from ohiya when travelling by train to Badulla. You also can reach Ohiya from Haputale on the Badulla Road.

Kalametiya  Birds habitat,  Southern Province

A wetland dominated by two brackish lagoons, mangrove swamps and open areas with pockets of scrub jungle. It is an important site for shorebirds.

Cattle, Intermediate and Great Egrets, Purple Swamphen, Glossy Ibis, White Ibis, Black-winged Stilt and Greenshank are among the bird life present here. 
How to get there : Bundala is at Weerawila in the south coast.