In spring 2014 we spend 3.5 weeks in Sri Lanka, a tour, organized and guided by the charismatic and knowledgeable Upali Ekanayake, a professional biologists and ornithologist, who supply us with so many fantastic adventures. But let me tell in more detail.
We arrived at Colombo airport on March 13th, early in the morning. In the arriving hall Upali waited for us, give some practical advises (e.g. change money here, it is, obviously, the cheapest offer you will have) and attended us to the mini-bus with our driver, how will drive all the time with great security, and thank you to him for his patience with us and our ornithological passion. Soon after the airport we had a first stop to have a first impression of the local avifauna. Here we had also good luck to observe a large Water Monitor. We go on driving to our first hotel, located on the bank of the Kelani Ganga River, a great place to relax, to dive deep in this very special country and to get jetlag under control.
We have had some very spectacular days at this place with great observations (e.g. Giant Squirrel, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Hanging Parrots, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Ceylon Grey hornbill). More than 60 species, many endemic and some very shy we could observe in this exciting river biotope. But also the impressions of daily life in and near to Kegalle were impressive. The next destination was Sinharaja National Forest, a primary rainforest with large species diversity and many endemics. On the way we had a lucky break. Somebody known to Upali told us that he knows the day stand of a frogmouth and, probably, he can show the bird to us.
After a short trip climbing though a rather dense forest, we found a female frogmouth some 1.5 m above ground level, which makes it possible to make some brilliant photographs of this not seldom, but very hard to find species.
After a wonderful day in Sinharaja forest with wonderful observations of e.g. Indian Cuckoo, red-faced Malkoha, Malabar Trogon, Lesser Yellownape, and many beautiful butterflies, we were keen to see what the following day in Udawalawe National Park will offer to us. Unfortunately we got a rainy day, but nevertheless at that day we saw more than 80 bird species, and had a surprising “meeting” with a Tiger Python while driving through the park. The next four days we made some trips to Yala national Park, Bundala and the tanks around Tissa. Because of Upalis great ornithological experience and the knowledge of our local guides we had the great pleasure to observe many new and endemic species. During our drive to the Tissa wetlands and the Bundala National Park, we got the largest daily species number (112), many of them were, naturally, wetland species, but also many other species during drive and in the shrub area before arriving the wetland could be observed. One of the most impressive moments at Bundala were when we had the chance to observe and compare not less than seven tern species close together (Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, Great Crested Tern, Little Tern, Whiskered Tern and White-winged Tern). But one of the most exciting situations was the moment in Yala National Park, while driving quickly on the road to a Leopard observation point, when we had a Sloth Bear very close to us. We moved back a little bit, and the bear was in front of us. We were impressed and the bear was obviously alarmed, hence he got up and showed, standing on his hind feet, his total impressive body with the typical face, the white breast markings and the curved claws. We all were thrilled. Very relaxing were the breaks on the bank of the Menik Ganga, where we have had dinner with only a few other ornithologists and, contrarily to our breakfast breaks, without other non-ornithological tourists. But also during dinner, we never were not observing. Once our driver came up to us and told us that some 50 meters away a Black-necked Stork was standing in the river basin. A very special situation, walking along the small river, accompanied by a Hanuman Langur troop and hearing all the foreign bird songs, we could observe, though far away, very well this gigantic stork species. After Yala, Bundala and the Tissa wetlands we said goodbye to the lowlands and drove north towards Nuwara Eliya and Kandy.
After visiting the Temple of Lord Ganesh in Sella Kataragama, we drove to Nuwara Eliya, located in a landscape which was much more familiar to us. Because of the high altitude next to tea plantations lots of vegetables were cultured here, we know from Europe, too, like tomatoes, cabbage or carrots. In the evening of the arrival day we visited the Victorian Park in Nuwara Eliya, a site where the people relax in the evening. There were a lot of people, but Upali was successful in presenting us two very rare bird species here. Next to the Dull-blue Flycatcher, we also observed several males and one female of the Pied Ground-thrush, a species breeding in India to Nepal, but wintering mainly in Sri Lanka. The occurrence in Victoria Park is well known.
The next high light was the visit of Horton Plains. Getting up at 4:45 a.m. we arrive the gate of Horton Plains National Park before it opened. It was early rather cold in the morning, but an early and quick observation of an otter makes everybody awake. This plateau at an altitude of 2,100–2,300 meters (6,900–7,500 ft) is rich in biodiversity and many species, especially butterflies, found here are endemic to the region. Only here we saw the Ceylon Tiger, the Ceylon Treebrown, the Blue Admiral or the Indian Fritillary.
After visiting Geragama Tea Factory, we drove to our next station, Kandy, with its marvelous Kandy Lake and a very good, traditional hotel, close to Kandy Lake. During a short walk in the afternoon alongside the edge of the lake, we observed a mixed colony of Indian Cormorant, Black-crowned Night Heron, Indian Pond Egrets and Little Egrets very close to the way. During observing and making photos from the bank path, we suddenly recognized that a colony of Indian Flying Foxes was only some 50 meter away from the bird colony. In the evening we had an awesome visit of the temple of the tooth.
The following four days was dominated by visiting the great ancient sites of Dambula, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Minhitale and Anuradnapura. All of them present the long history of the historic Sri Lanka starting with the foundation of Anuradnapura more than 2,400 years ago. It shows us the importance of the old Sri Lankan kingdom and the meaning of the impressive sites for the Buddhism in Sri Lanka. We enjoyed all of these visits, inhaled the fascination of the different locations and marvelled at the deep relatedness of the people to their religion and history. We were deeply impressed. Beside of these visits we always had one eye on the birds. Upali told us a lot about the history of the locations but also showed us the special birds living in this dry zone of Sri Lanka. We learned not only a lot of Sri Lanklas history but we saw also e. g. the Peregrin Falcon at Sigiriya, the Brown Fish Owl at Habarana, the Black Drongo at Minhitale and Anuradnapura or the Cottom Pygmy Goose at Habarana. Also unforgettable for us are the night excursions in Habarana on the dam looking on the tank close to our hotel. Upali knows about the Fish Own in close vicinity and he knows that the owl starts its hunting flights from the dam, and indeed we saw this large, impressive owl after sunset, when the light went down. And Upali was able to present us the Jerdon’s Nightjar, too, by spotlighting the bird while sitting on a post close to the dam. Even the waiting for darkness was impressive, because the White-bellied See-eagle nests there, the Purple-swamphen could be observed on the tank as well as several shorebirds and the Pigmy Goose.
Anuradnapura was the last station of the journey together with Upali. We spend four further days for relaxing in Ranveli in a good eco-hotel, but we also recognized the difference between the final stay on the beach and the 19 days round trip with a professional ornithologist as a guide.
We have to say many thanks to Upali. His knowledge was impressive, he was not only very familiar with the Sri Lankan avifauna, he also has the capability to imitate many bird songs, what makes it much easier to us to understand which bird actually sang. He also knows all the mammals, reptiles and butterflies and when we asked for the trees and flowers, he could tell us, what it was and how the plant potentially could be used for. And, as we read before, we can confirm, that Upali seems to be able to break physical rules. Not only once he told us: ”Look at the bird behind the trees. You have to look through the trees and then you will see it, sitting on a branch behind a leave”. How is it possible to look through trees, he was able to do so, but we failed often! Nevertheless during the total 24 day journey we observed 222 bird species, 12 mammals, 15 reptiles, 30 butterflies and uncounted other insects, flowers, trees and adventures more than words can say.
We had a great vacation in Sri Lanka and, hopefully, with Upali we found a Singhalese friend and an ornithologist colleague, too.
Podicipedidae LAPPENTAUCHER
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Zwergtaucher
Pelecanidae PELIKANE
Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis Graupelikan
Sulidae TÖLPEL
Phalacrocoracidae KORMORANE
Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis Braunwangenscharbe
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Kormoran
Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger Mohrenscharbe
Anhingidae SCHLANGENHALSVÖGEL
Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster Schlangenhalsvogel
Ardeidae REIHER
Gray Heron Ardea cinerea Graureiher
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Purpurreiher
Great Egret Ardea alba Silberreiher
Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia Mittelreiher
Little Egret Egretta garzetta Seidenreiher
Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii Paddyreiher
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Kuhreiher
Striated Heron Butorides striata Mangrovereiher
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Nachtreiher
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis Chinadommel
Chestnut Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus Zimtdommel
Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis Schwarzdommel
Ciconiidae STÖRCHE
Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala Buntstorch
Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans Silberklaffschnabel
Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus Wollhalsstorch
Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus Riesenstorch
Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus Kleiner Adjutant
Threskiornithidae IBISSE
Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus Schwarzhalsibis
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia Löffler
Anatidae ENTENVÖGEL
Lesser Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna javanica Javapfeifgans
Cotton Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus Koromandelzwergente
Garganey Anas querquedula Knäkente
Pandionidae FISCHADLER
Osprey Pandion haliaetus Fischadler
Accipitridae HABICHTARTIGE
Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus Schopfwespenbussard
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus Gleitaar
Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus indus Brahminenweih
White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster Weißbauch-Seeadler
Gray-headed Fish-Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus Graukopf-Seeadler
Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela melanotis Schlangenweihe
Shikra Accipiter badius dussumieri Schikrasperber
Besra Accipiter virgatus Besrasperber
Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis Malaienadler
Sri Lanka Crested Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus ceylanensis "Sri-Lanka-Haubenadler"
Falconidae FALKEN
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus peregrinator Schwarzer Schahin
Phasianidae GLATTFUSSHÜHNER
Ceylon Junglefowl Gallus lafayetii Ceylonhuhn
Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus Pfau
Turnicidae WACHTELLAUFHÜHNCHEN
Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator Bindenlaufhühnchen
Rallidaen RALLEN
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus Weißbrust-Kielralle
Watercock Gallicrex cinerea Wasserhahn
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio poliocephalus "Graukopf"-Purpurhuhn
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Teichhuhn
Jacanidae BLATTHÜHNCHEN
Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus Fasanblatthühnchen (Wasserfasan)
Recurvirostridae STELZENLÄUFER
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Stelzenläufer
Burhinidae TRIELE
Indian Thick-knee Burhinus indicus "Indien-Triel"
Great Thick-knee Esacus recurvirostris Krabbentriel
Glareolidae BRACHSCHWALBENARTIGE
Small Pratincole Glareola lactea Sandbrachschwalbe
Charadriidae REGENPFEIFER
Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus Gelblappenkiebitz, Malabarkiebitz
Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus Rotlappenkiebitz
Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva Pazifischer Goldregenpfeifer
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola Kiebitzregenpfeifer
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Flussregenpfeifer
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Seeregenpfeifer
Lesser Sandplover Charadrius mongolus Mongolenregenpfeifer
Scolopacidae SCHNEPFEN
Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura Spießbekassine
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Uferschnepfe
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Regenbrachvogel
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata Großer Brachvogel
Common Redshank Tringa totanus Rotschenkel
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Teichwasserläufer
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia Grünschenkel
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Bruchwasserläufer
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Flussuferläufer
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres Steinwälzer
Little Stint Calidris minuta Zwergstrandläufer
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Sichelstrandläufer
Laridae MÖWEN
Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus Braunkopfmöwe
Sternidae SEESCHWALBEN
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica Lachseeschwalbe
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia Raubseeschwalbe
Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis Rüppellseeschwalbe
Great Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii Eilseeschwalbe
Little Tern Sterna albifrons Zwergseeschwalbe
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus Weißbart-Seeschwalbe
White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus Weißflügel-Seeschwalbe
Columbidae TAUBEN
Rock Pigeon Columba livia Felsentaube / Straßentaube
Ceylon Wood-Pigeon Columba torringtoni Ceylontaube
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis Perlhalstaube
Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica Grünflügel (Glanzkäfer)taube
Orange-breasted Pigeon Treron bicincta Bindengrüntaube
Sri Lanka Green-Pigeon Treron pompadora Pompadourtaube
Green Imperial-Pigeon Ducula aenea Bronzefruchttaube
Psittacidae SITTICHE
Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria Großer Alexandersittich
Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri Halsbandsittich
Layard's Parakeet Psittacula calthropae Blauschwanzsittich
Ceylon Hanging-Parrot Loriculus beryllinus Ceylonpapageichen
Cuculidae KUCKUCKE
Pied Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus Jakobinerkuckuck
Common Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx varius Wechselkuckuck
Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus Kurzflügelkuckuck
Grey-bellied Cuckoo Cacomantis passerinus Klagekuckuck
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea Koel
Blue-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris Kleiner Grünschnabelkuckuck
Sirkeer Malkoha Phaenicophaeus leschenaultii Sirkarkuckuck
Red-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus Nacktstirnkuckuck
‘Southern’ Coucal / Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis parroti "Südlicher" Heckenkuckuck
Green-billed Coucal Centropus chlororhynchus Ceylonkuckuck
Tytonidae SCHLEIHEREULEN
Barn Owl Tyto alba Schleiereule
Strigidae EULEN
Indian Scops-Owl Otus bakkamoena Indien-Zwergohreule
Brown Fish-Owl Ketupa zeylonensis Fischuhu
Brown Wood-Owl Strix leptogrammica Malaienkauz
Chestnut-backed Owlet Glaucidium castanonotum Kastanienmantelkauz
Podargidae SCHWALME
Ceylon Frogmouth Batrachostomus moniliger Ceylonfroschmaul
Caprimulgidae NACHTSCHWALBEN
Jerdon's Nightjar Caprimulgus atripennis Maharadschanachtschwalbe
Apodidae SEGLER
Indian Swiftlet Aerodramus unicolor Malabarsalangane
Asian Palm-Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis Bengalensegler
Little Swift Apus affinis Haussegler
Hemiprocnidae BAUMSEGLER
Crested Treeswift Hemiprocne coronata Kronenbaumsegler
Trogonidae VERKEHRTFÜSSER
Malabar Trogon Harpactes fasciatus Malabartrogon
Alcedinidae EISVÖGEL
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Eisvogel
Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis Storchschnabelliest
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis Braunliest
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Graufischer
Meropidae SPINTE
Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis orientalis Smaragdspint
Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus Blauschwanzspint
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti Braunkopfspint
Coraciidae RACKEN
Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis indica Hinduracke-indica
Upupidae WIEDEHOPFE
Hoopoe Upupa epops Wiedehopf
Bucerotidae NASHORNVÖGEL
Ceylon Gray Hornbill Ocyceros gingalensis Ceylontoko
Malabar Pied Hornbill Anthracoceres coronatus Malabarhornvogel
Capitonidae BARTVÖGEL
Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica Braunkopf-Bartvogel
Yellow-fronted Barbet Megalaima flavifrons Goldstirn-Bartvogel
Crimson-fronted Barbet / Small Barbet Megalaima rubricapillus Malabarschmied
Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala Kupferschmied
Picidae SPECHTE
Brown-capped Woodpecker Dendrocopos nanus gymnopthalmus Braunscheitelspecht-nanus
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis Gelbscheitelspecht
Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus Gelbhaubenspecht
Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense psarodes Orangespecht - psarodes
White-naped Woodpecker Chrysocolaptes festivus Goldschulterspecht
Crimson-backed Goldenback Chrysocolaptes (lucidus) stricklandi "Sri Lanka - Sultanspecht"
Pittidae PITTA
Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura Bengalenpitta
Alaudidae LERCHEN
Jerdon's Bushlark Mirafra affinis Jerdonlerche
Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix grisea Grauscheitellerche
Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula Orientfeldlerche
Hirundinidae SCHWALBEN
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Rauchschwalbe
Ceylon Swallow Cecropis hyperythra "Ceylonschwalbe"
Motacillidae PIEPER und STELZEN
Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus Baumstelze
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava Schafstelze
Gray Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Gebirgsstelze
Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus Orientspornpieper
Campephagidae STACHELBÜRZER
Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei Maskenraupenfänger
Black-headed Cuckooshrike Coracina melanoptera Schwarzkopf-Raupenfänger
Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus Zwergmennigvogel
Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus Scharlachmennigvogel
Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus Elsterraupenschmätzer
Pycnonotidae BÜLBÜLS
Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus melanicterus Goldbrustbülbül
Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer Rußbülbül
Yellow-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus penicillatus Schmuckbülbül
White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus Brauenbülbül
Yellow-browed Bulbul Iole indica Goldbrauenbülbül
Square-tailed Black Bulbul Hypsipetes ganeesa Indien-Rotschnabelbülbül
Chloropseidae BLATTVÖGEL
Jerdon's Leafbird Chloropsis jerdoni Blauflügel-Blattvogel
Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons Goldstirn-Blattvogel
Common Iora Aegithina tiphia Schwarzflügel-Iora
Turdidae DROSSELN
Ceylon Whistling-Thrush Myophonus blighi Ceylonpfeifdrossel
Pied Ground-thrush Zoothera wardii Elsterdrossel
Spot-winged Thrush Zoothera spiloptera Ceylondrossel
Indian Blackbird Turdus simillimus Amsel
Cisticolidae (Gattungen
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis Cistensänger
Jungle Prinia Prinia sylvatica Dschungelprinie
Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis Rostbauchprinie
Plain Prinia Prinia inornata Flachlandprinie
Sylviidae ZWEIGSÄNGER
Blyth's Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum Buschrohrsänger
Clamorous Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus brunnscens Sternrohrsänger-brunnscens
Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides Grünlaubsänger
Large-billed Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus magnirostris Schluchtenlaubsänger
Muscicapidae FLIEGENSCHNÄPPER
Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica Braunschnäpper
Brown-breasted Flycatcher Muscicapa muttui Bambusschnäpper
Dull-blue Flycatcher Eumyias sordida Ceylonschnäpper
Tickell's Blue-Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae Braunbrust-Blauschnäpper
Gray-headed Canary-flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis Graukopfschnäpper
Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis Dajal
White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus Shama
Indian Robin /Black Robin Saxicoloides fulicata Strauchschmätzer
Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata Mohrenschwarzkehlchen
Rhipiduridae
White-browed Fantail Rhipidura aureola Weißstirn-Fächerschwanz
Monarchidae
Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea Schwarzgenickschnäpper
Asian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi Fahlbauch-Paradiesschnäpper
Timaliidae TIMALIEN
Ashy-headed Laughingthrush Garrulax cinereifrons Graustirnhäherling
Brown-capped Babbler Pellorneum fuscocapillum Braunkappen-Erdtimalie
Sri Lanka Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus melanurus Schwarzschwanzsäbler
Tawny-bellied Babbler Dumetia hyperythra Rotbauchtimalie
Dark-fronted Babbler Rhopocichla atriceps Kapuzentimalie
Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense Goldaugentimalie
Orange-billed Babbler Turdoides rufescens Ceylondrossling
Yellow-billed Babbler Turdoides affinis Gelbschnabeldrossling
Paridae MEISEN
Grey Tit Parus cinereus "graue Kohlmeise"
Sittidae KLEIBER
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis Samtstirnkleiber
Nectariniidae NEKTARVOGEL
Purple-rumped Sunbird Leptocoma zeylonica Ceylonnektarvogel
Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus Purpurnektarvogel
Long-billed Sunbird Cinnyris lotenius Lotusnektarvogel
Dicaeidae BLÜTENPICKER
Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile Dickschnabel-Mistelfresser
White-throated Flowerpecker Dicaeum vincens Weißkehl-Mistelfresser
Pale-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos Lachsschnabel-Mistelfresser
Zosteropidae BRILLENVOGEL
Ceylon White-eye Zosterops ceylonensis Ceylonbrillenvogel
Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus Gangesbrillenvogel
Oriolidae PIROLE
Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus Schwarzkopfpirol
Laniidae WÜRGER
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus cristatus Braunwürger
Philippine Shrike Lanius cristatus lucionensis "Philippinen-Würger"
Prionopidae BRILLENWÜRGER
Ceylon Woodshrike Tephrodornis affinis "Ceylon-Raupenwürger"
Dicruridae DRONGOS
Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus Königsdrongo
Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus Graudrongo
White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens Graubrustdrongo
Sri Lanka Crested Drongo Dicrurus lophorinus Regendrongo
Artamidae SCHWALBENSTARE
Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus Grauschwalbenstar
Corvidae RABENVÖGEL
Ceylon Magpie Urocissa ornata Schmuckkitta
House Crow Corvus splendens Glanzkrähe
Indian Jungle Crow Corvus culminatus Dschungelkrähe
Sturnidae STARE
Southern Hill Myna Gracula indica Kleiner Beo
Ceylon Myna Gracula ptilogenys Dschungelatzel
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis Hirtenmaina
Brahminy Starling Temenuchus pagodarum Pagodenstar
Ploceidae WEBERVÖGEL
Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar Manyarweber
Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus Bayaweber
Estrildidae PRACHTFINKEN
White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata Spitzschwanz-Bronzemännchen
Black-throated Munia Lonchura kelaarti Bergbronzemännchen
Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata Muskatamadine
Black-headed Munia Lonchura malacca Schwarzbauchnonne
Passeridae SPERLINGE
House Sparrow Passer domesticus Haussperling
MAMMALS
Fruit bats (Pteropodidae)
Indian Flying Fox Pteropus giganteus Indischer Riesenflughund
Short-nosed Fruit Bat Cyanopterus sphinx Indischer Kurznasenflughund
Monkeys (Cercopithecidae)
Toque Macaque Macaca sinica Ceylon-Hutaffe
Hanuman Langur Presbytis entellus Südlicher Hanuman-Languar
Purple-faced Leaf Monkey Presbytis senex Weißbartlanguar
Dogs (Canidae)
Jackal Canis aureus Goldschakal
Bears (Ursidae)
Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus Lippenbär
Martens, Weasels, Badgers & Otters (Mustelidae)
Otter Lutra lutra Fischotter
Mongooses (Herpestidae)
Indian Grey Mongoose Herpestes edwardsi Indischer Mungo
Indian Brown Mongoose Herpestes fuscus Indischer Kurzschwanzmanguste
Ruddy Mongoose Herpestes smithii Indische Rotmanguste
Cats (Felidae)
Leopard Panthera pardus kotiya Leopard
Elephants (Elephantidae)
Asian Elephant Elephas maximus Indischer Elefant
Pigs (Suidae)
Wild Pig Sus scrofa Wildschwein
Deer (Cervidae)
Spotted Deer Cervus axis Axishirsch
Sambar Cervus unicolour Sambar, Pferdehirsch
Indian Muntjac Muntiacus muntjak Muntjak
Cattle, Buffalo, Antelopes, Goats & Sheep (Bovidae)
Water Buffalo Bubalus bubalis Wasserbüffel
Giant, Tree, Ground & Flying Squirrels (Sciuridae)
Layard’s Striped Squirrel Funambulus layardi Layard Palmenhörnchen
Palm Squirrel Funambulus palmarum Gestreiftes Palmenhörnchen
Dusky Striped Squirrel Funambulus sublineatus Dunkles Palmenhörnchen
Grizzled Indian Squirre Ratufa macroura Riesenhörnchen
Hares & Rabbits (Leporidae)
Indian Hare Lepus nigricollis Schwarznackenhase
REPTILES
Geckoes (Gekkonidae)
Common House Gecko Hemidactylus frenatus asiatischer Hausgecko
Bark Gecko Hemidactylus leschenaultii
Agamid Lizards (Agamidae)
Green Garden Lizard Calotes calotes Sägerückenagame
Crestless Lizard Calotes liocephalus
Common Garden Lizard Calotes versicolor Blutsaugeragame
Kangaroo Lizard Otocryptis wiegmanni Wiegmann's Agame
Skinks (Scincidae)
Common Skink Eutropis carinata lankae
Monitor Lizards (Varanidae)
Land Monitor Varanus bengalensis Bengalenwaran
Water Monitor Varanus salvator Bindenwaran
Crocodiles (Crocodylidae)
Marsh Crocodile Crocodylus palustris Sumpfkrokodil
Freshwater Turtles (Batguridae)
Indian Black Turtle (Hard-shelled Terrapin) Melanochelys trijuga Dreikiel-Erdschildkröte
Freshwater Turtles (Emydidae)
Red-eared Slider Trachemys scripta Rotwangen-Schmuckschildkröte
Tortoise (Testudinidae)
Star Tortoise Geochelone elegans
Pythons & Boas (Pythonidae & Boidae)
Indian Python Python molurus Tigerpython
Colubrid Snakes (Colubridae)
Templeton's Kukri Snake Oligodon calamarius
BUTTERFLIES
Nymphalidae:
Indian Fritillary Argynnis hyperbius
Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus kleiner Monarch, gewöhnlicher Tiger
Common Tiger Danaus genutia Indischer Monarch
Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace
Dark Blue Tiger Tirumala septentrionis
Ceylon Blue Glassy Tiger Ideopsis similis
Common Indian Crow Euploea core
Glassy Tiger Parantica aglea
Ceylon Tiger Parantica taprobana
Ceylon Tree Nymph Idea iasonia
Tawny Coster Acraea violae
Common Sailor Neptis hylas
Clipper Parthenos sylvia Blauer Segler
Chocolate Soldier Junonia iphita
Blue Admiral Kaniska canace
Ceylon Treebrown Lethe daretis
Cruiser Vindula erota
Papilionionidae:
Common Jay Graphium doson
Common Bluebottle Graphium sarpedon
Common Banded Peacock Papilio crino
Lime Butterfly Papilio demoleus Citrus Schwalbenschwanz
Red Helen Papilio helenus Rote Helen
Blue Mormon Papilio polymnestor Blauer Pfau
Common Mormon Papilio polytes Kleiner Mormon
Common Rose Pachliopta aristolochiae
Crimson Rose Pachliopta hector
Pieridae:
Lemon Emigrant/ Common Emigrant Catopsilia pomona crocale
Common Jezebel Delias eucharis
Three-Spot Grass Yellow Eurema blanda
Satyridae:
Psyche Leptosia nina
White Four-ring Ypthima ceylonica