TARGETS">
SPECIALTIES

TISSA LAKE

SRI LANKA
LOCALE

# Species:236
# Excl Vagrants:236
# Endemics:14
# Near Endemics:18

BIRD CHECKLIST

The table below lists species recorded at this locale but does not indicate frequency of occurrence there. It does indicate whether each species is globally threatened or endangered according to the IUCN and also whether it is migratory, very rare, or accidental in the country. The list is based on available data and may be incomplete.*

color codes

 
Ducks: Anatidae

1/Lesser Whistling-Duck/Dendrocygna javanica
2Cotton Pygmy-GooseNettapus coromandelianus
3/Garganey/Spatula querquedula
4/Northern Pintail/Anas acuta
5/Green-winged Teal/Anas crecca

 
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies: Phasianidae

6Indian PeafowlPavo cristatus
7Sri Lanka SpurfowlGalloperdix bicalcarata
8Sri Lanka JunglefowlGallus lafayettii

 
Grebes: Podicipedidae

9Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis

 
Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae

10Rock PigeonColumba livia
11Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaocto
12Spotted DoveSpilopelia chinensis
13Asian Emerald DoveChalcophaps indica
14Orange-breasted Green-PigeonTreron bicinctus
15Sri Lanka Green-PigeonTreron pompadora
16Green Imperial-PigeonDucula aenea

 
Cuckoos: Cuculidae

17Indian CuckooCuculus micropterus
18Greater CoucalCentropus sinensis
19Sirkeer MalkohaTaccocua leschenaultii
20Blue-faced MalkohaPhaenicophaeus viridirostris
21Pied CuckooClamator jacobinus
22Asian KoelEudynamys scolopaceus
23Gray-bellied CuckooCacomantis passerinus

 
Nightjars and Allies: Caprimulgidae

24Jungle NightjarCaprimulgus indicus
25Jerdon's NightjarCaprimulgus atripennis
26Indian NightjarCaprimulgus asiaticus

 
Swifts: Apodidae

27Brown-backed NeedletailHirundapus giganteus
28Indian SwiftletAerodramus unicolor
29Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melba
30Little SwiftApus affinis
31Asian Palm SwiftCypsiurus balasiensis

 
Treeswifts: Hemiprocnidae

32Crested TreeswiftHemiprocne coronata

 
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Rallidae

33Slaty-breasted RailLewinia striatus
34Eurasian MoorhenGallinula chloropus
35Eurasian CootFulica atra
36Gray-headed SwamphenPorphyrio poliocephalus
37WatercockGallicrex cinerea
38White-breasted WaterhenAmaurornis phoenicurus
39Ruddy-breasted CrakeZapornia fusca

 
Thick-knees: Burhinidae

40Great Thick-kneeEsacus recurvirostris
41Indian Thick-kneeBurhinus indicus

 
Stilts and Avocets: Recurvirostridae

42Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus

 
Plovers and Lapwings: Charadriidae

43/Black-bellied Plover/Pluvialis squatarola
44/Pacific Golden-Plover/Pluvialis fulva
45/Common Ringed Plover/Charadrius hiaticula
46Little Ringed PloverCharadrius dubius
47Yellow-wattled LapwingVanellus malabaricus
48Red-wattled LapwingVanellus indicus
49/Tibetan Sand-Plover/Anarhynchus atrifrons
50/Greater Sand-Plover/Anarhynchus leschenaultii
51Kentish PloverAnarhynchus alexandrinus

 
Painted-Snipes: Rostratulidae

52Greater Painted-SnipeRostratula benghalensis

 
Jacanas: Jacanidae

53Pheasant-tailed JacanaHydrophasianus chirurgus

 
Sandpipers and Allies: Scolopacidae

54/Eurasian Curlew/Numenius arquata
55/Bar-tailed Godwit/Limosa lapponica
56/Black-tailed Godwit/Limosa limosa
57/Pin-tailed Snipe/Gallinago stenura
58/Common Snipe/Gallinago gallinago
59/Red-necked Phalarope/Phalaropus lobatus
60/Common Sandpiper/Actitis hypoleucos
61/Green Sandpiper/Tringa ochropus
62/Marsh Sandpiper/Tringa stagnatilis
63/Wood Sandpiper/Tringa glareola
64/Common Redshank/Tringa totanus
65/Common Greenshank/Tringa nebularia
66/Ruddy Turnstone/Arenaria interpres
67/Great Knot/Calidris tenuirostris
68/Ruff/Calidris pugnax
69/Broad-billed Sandpiper/Calidris falcinellus
70/Curlew Sandpiper/Calidris ferruginea
71/Sanderling/Calidris alba
72/Little Stint/Calidris minuta

 
Buttonquail: Turnicidae

73Barred ButtonquailTurnix suscitator

 
Pratincoles and Coursers: Glareolidae

74Small PratincoleGlareola lactea
75Oriental PratincoleGlareola maldivarum

 
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Laridae

76|Bridled Tern|Onychoprion anaethetus
77Little TernSternula albifrons
78/Gull-billed Tern/Gelochelidon nilotica
79/Caspian Tern/Hydroprogne caspia
80/Whiskered Tern/Chlidonias hybrida
81/White-winged Tern/Chlidonias leucopterus
82/Common Tern/Sterna hirundo
83Lesser Crested TernThalasseus bengalensis
84Great Crested TernThalasseus bergii

 
Storks: Ciconiidae

85Asian OpenbillAnastomus oscitans
86Asian Woolly-necked StorkCiconia episcopus
87Black-necked StorkEphippiorhynchus asiaticus
88/Lesser Adjutant/Leptoptilos javanicus
89Painted StorkMycteria leucocephala

 
Anhingas: Anhingidae

90Oriental DarterAnhinga melanogaster

 
Cormorants and Shags: Phalacrocoracidae

91Little CormorantMicrocarbo niger
92Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
93Indian CormorantPhalacrocorax fuscicollis

 
Pelicans: Pelecanidae

94Spot-billed PelicanPelecanus philippensis

 
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns: Ardeidae

95Black BitternIxobrychus flavicollis
96Cinnamon BitternIxobrychus cinnamomeus
97Yellow BitternIxobrychus sinensis
98Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticorax
99Malayan Night HeronGorsachius melanolophus
100Little EgretEgretta garzetta
101Western Reef-HeronEgretta gularis
102Striated HeronButorides striata
103Indian Pond-HeronArdeola grayii
104Eastern Cattle EgretBubulcus coromandus
105Great EgretArdea alba
106Medium EgretArdea intermedia
107Gray HeronArdea cinerea
108Purple HeronArdea purpurea

 
Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae

109/Glossy Ibis/Plegadis falcinellus
110Black-headed IbisThreskiornis melanocephalus
111Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia

 
Osprey: Pandionidae

112/Osprey/Pandion haliaetus

 
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites: Accipitridae

113Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus
114European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorus
115Crested Serpent-EagleSpilornis cheela
116Changeable Hawk-EagleNisaetus cirrhatus
117Black EagleIctinaetus malaiensis
118/Booted Eagle/Hieraaetus pennatus
119/Western Marsh Harrier/Circus aeruginosus
120ShikraAccipiter badius
121BesraAccipiter virgatus
122Brahminy KiteHaliastur indus
123White-bellied Sea-EagleIcthyophaga leucogaster
124Gray-headed Fish-EagleIcthyophaga ichthyaetus
125/Common Buzzard/Buteo buteo

 
Barn-Owls: Tytonidae

126Barn OwlTyto alba

 
Owls: Strigidae

127Indian Scops-OwlOtus bakkamoena
128Oriental Scops-OwlOtus sunia
129Brown Fish-OwlKetupa zeylonensis
130Spot-bellied Eagle-OwlKetupa nipalensis
131Jungle OwletGlaucidium radiatum

 
Hoopoes: Upupidae

132Eurasian HoopoeUpupa epops

 
Hornbills: Bucerotidae

133Malabar Pied-HornbillAnthracoceros coronatus

 
Kingfishers: Alcedinidae

134Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
135Stork-billed KingfisherPelargopsis capensis
136White-throated KingfisherHalcyon smyrnensis
137Black-capped KingfisherHalcyon pileata
138Pied KingfisherCeryle rudis

 
Bee-eaters: Meropidae

139Asian Green Bee-eaterMerops orientalis
140/Blue-tailed Bee-eater/Merops philippinus
141/European Bee-eater/Merops apiaster
142Chestnut-headed Bee-eaterMerops leschenaulti

 
Rollers: Coraciidae

143Indian RollerCoracias benghalensis

 
Asian Barbets: Megalaimidae

144Crimson-fronted BarbetPsilopogon rubricapillus
145Coppersmith BarbetPsilopogon haemacephalus
146Brown-headed BarbetPsilopogon zeylanicus
147Yellow-fronted BarbetPsilopogon flavifrons

 
Woodpeckers: Picidae

148Brown-capped Pygmy WoodpeckerYungipicus nanus
149Yellow-crowned WoodpeckerLeiopicus mahrattensis
150Black-rumped FlamebackDinopium benghalense
151Red-backed FlamebackDinopium psarodes
152Lesser YellownapePicus chlorolophus
153Crimson-backed FlamebackChrysocolaptes stricklandi
154White-naped WoodpeckerChrysocolaptes festivus

 
Falcons and Caracaras: Falconidae

155Eurasian KestrelFalco tinnunculus
156Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus

 
Parrots: Psittaculidae

157Alexandrine ParakeetPsittacula eupatria
158Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameri
159Plum-headed ParakeetPsittacula cyanocephala
160Sri Lanka Hanging-ParrotLoriculus beryllinus

 
Pittas: Pittidae

161Indian PittaPitta brachyura

 
Cuckooshrikes: Campephagidae

162Small MinivetPericrocotus cinnamomeus
163Orange MinivetPericrocotus flammeus
164Black-headed CuckooshrikeLalage melanoptera

 
Old World Orioles: Oriolidae

165Black-hooded OrioleOriolus xanthornus

 
Woodswallows, Bellmagpies, and Allies: Artamidae

166Ashy WoodswallowArtamus fuscus

 
Vangas, Helmetshrikes and Allies: Vangidae

167Sri Lanka WoodshrikeTephrodornis affinis

 
Ioras: Aegithinidae

168Common IoraAegithina tiphia

 
Fantails: Rhipiduridae

169White-browed FantailRhipidura aureola

 
Drongos: Dicruridae

170White-bellied DrongoDicrurus caerulescens

 
Monarch Flycatchers: Monarchidae

171Indian Paradise-FlycatcherTerpsiphone paradisi

 
Shrikes: Laniidae

172/Brown Shrike/Lanius cristatus
173Long-tailed ShrikeLanius schach

 
Crows, Jays, and Magpies: Corvidae

174House CrowCorvus splendens
175Large-billed CrowCorvus macrorhynchos

 
Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice: Paridae

176Cinereous TitParus cinereus

 
Larks: Alaudidae

177Ashy-crowned Sparrow-LarkEremopterix griseus
178Jerdon's BushlarkMirafra affinis
179Oriental SkylarkAlauda gulgula

 
Cisticolas and Allies: Cisticolidae

180Common TailorbirdOrthotomus sutorius
181Gray-breasted PriniaPrinia hodgsonii
182Jungle PriniaPrinia sylvatica
183Ashy PriniaPrinia socialis
184Plain PriniaPrinia inornata
185Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis

 
Reed Warblers and Allies: Acrocephalidae

186/Blyth's Reed Warbler/Acrocephalus dumetorum
187/Clamorous Reed Warbler/Acrocephalus stentoreus

 
Grassbirds and Allies: Locustellidae

188/Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler/Helopsaltes certhiola

 
Swallows: Hirundinidae

189/Bank Swallow/Riparia riparia
190Hill SwallowHirundo domicola
191/Barn Swallow/Hirundo rustica
192Red-rumped SwallowCecropis daurica
193Sri Lanka SwallowCecropis hyperythra

 
Bulbuls: Pycnonotidae

194White-browed BulbulPycnonotus luteolus
195Yellow-eared BulbulPycnonotus penicillatus
196Red-vented BulbulPycnonotus cafer

 
Leaf Warblers: Phylloscopidae

197/Green Warbler/Phylloscopus nitidus

 
Sylviid Warblers, Parrotbills, and Allies: Sylviidae

198Yellow-eyed BabblerChrysomma sinense

 
White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies: Zosteropidae

199Indian White-eyeZosterops palpebrosus

 
Tree-Babblers, Scimitar-Babblers, and Allies: Timaliidae

200Tawny-bellied BabblerDumetia hyperythra
201Dark-fronted BabblerDumetia atriceps

 
Fulvetta and Ground Babblers: Pellorneidae

202Brown-capped BabblerPellorneum fuscocapillus

 
Laughingthrushes and Allies: Leiothrichidae

203Yellow-billed BabblerArgya affinis

 
Nuthatches: Sittidae

204Velvet-fronted NuthatchSitta frontalis

 
Starlings: Sturnidae

205Sri Lanka MynaGracula ptilogenys
206Southern Hill MynaGracula indica
207/Rosy Starling/Pastor roseus
208Brahminy StarlingSturnia pagodarum
209Common MynaAcridotheres tristis

 
Thrushes and Allies: Turdidae

210Spot-winged ThrushGeokichla spiloptera

 
Old World Flycatchers: Muscicapidae

211/Asian Brown Flycatcher/Muscicapa dauurica
212/Indian Robin/Copsychus fulicatus
213Oriental Magpie-RobinCopsychus saularis
214White-rumped ShamaCopsychus malabaricus
215/Indian Blue Robin/Larvivora brunnea
216Isabelline WheatearOenanthe isabellina

 
Flowerpeckers: Dicaeidae

217Thick-billed FlowerpeckerDicaeum agile
218Pale-billed FlowerpeckerDicaeum erythrorhynchos

 
Sunbirds and Spiderhunters: Nectariniidae

219Purple-rumped SunbirdLeptocoma zeylonica
220Purple SunbirdCinnyris asiaticus
221Loten's SunbirdCinnyris lotenius

 
Leafbirds: Chloropseidae

222Jerdon's LeafbirdChloropsis jerdoni
223Golden-fronted LeafbirdChloropsis aurifrons

 
Weavers and Allies: Ploceidae

224Streaked WeaverPloceus manyar
225Baya WeaverPloceus philippinus

 
Waxbills and Allies: Estrildidae

226Indian SilverbillEuodice malabarica
227White-rumped MuniaLonchura striata
228Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulata
229Tricolored MuniaLonchura malacca

 
Old World Sparrows: Passeridae

230House SparrowPasser domesticus

 
Wagtails and Pipits: Motacillidae

231/Forest Wagtail/Dendronanthus indicus
232/Gray Wagtail/Motacilla cinerea
233/Western Yellow Wagtail/Motacilla flava
234/Richard's Pipit/Anthus richardi
235Paddyfield PipitAnthus rufulus
236/Blyth's Pipit/Anthus godlewskii

 

 *Nomenclature and taxonomic affinities are based on Clements 6th Edition published 2007 with updates through 2021 maintained by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, which relies largely on the AOU and SACC nomenclature committees. IUCN status may reflect splits not currently recognized by Clements.
**Species not accepted by Clements, AOU, or SACC that we recognize based on the IOC, field observations along with geographical separation, consensus opinions of field guide authors, and other sources. These species are potential splits in future Clements updates.

OTHER LOCALES

PRESENCE CODES

CodeDescription##
//Boreal Visitor57
\\Austral Visitor0
||Transient1
##Non-breeding Dispersal0
<>Erratic/Irregular0
()Breeding Season Only0
{}Casual/Vagrant0
[]Accidental1

STATUS CODES

CodeDescription##
NTNear Threatened17
VVulnerable2
ENEndangered1
CRCritically Endangered0

Species counts in code tables depend on completeness of the data. For some countries or locales, data may not include all species or information on species presence may be incomplete.