About this place

Sri Lanka Bird Watching Tours

Sri Lanka has recorded more than 468 species of birds. There are a total of 339 varieties of birds found in Sri Lanka and a further 129 species of migrant birds. A total of 26 species of the birds found are native birds. The seasonal migrant birds those shuttle between the North and South Pole often use the island as the point of relaxation due to its strategic location. A bird watcher could expect to observe much as 230 species at any given time.

Kumana Bird Sanctuary

Kumana a National Park, situated to the northeast of the Yala National Park, is a habitat for local birds and migratory aquatic birds including flamingoes, ibis, herons, pheasants particularly impressive in the man grove swamps. Herds of elephants can also be spotted although leopards and bears are more elusive.

Sinharaja man and biosphere reserve

A world heritage site since 1988 this is arguably the most important site in Sri Lanka and is internationally important for its biodiversity. The reserve encompasses some of the few remaining sizeable tracts of undisturbed primary lowland rainforest. Much of the birding, however, is done in areas that were once subject to selective logging.

Bellanwila-Attidiya Bird Sanctuary

The santuary is a precious residual fragment of the once extensive marshlands around Colombo. It is of major importance as a wildlife refuge as well as a flood retention area for Colombo. Although its surroundings are far from salubrious, it is rich in species and well worth a visit.

Kandalama Sanctuary

There is 55 acre forest with a variety of trees, some 100 years or more in age, around the Kandalama tank including medicinal plants and a rich and varied bird life. Kandalama offers one of the best bird watching opportunities in the north central province. The diversity in habitat and the tank provides the visitors the opportunity to observe more than 145 species, which is almost one third of total number of bird life in Sri Lanka. This population consists of the arboreal, terrestrial and aquatic birds. One can also observe many waders and raptors too.

Udawattekale Sanctuary

Located in Kandy, which is a tract of rainforest rich in species that has enjoyed protection from historical times

Victoria Park

Setting in Nuwaraeliya, it is an ornamental park in the heart of town that has gained a reputation for birds.

Hakgala Botanical Gardens

The most favorable place for bird watching, Hakgala Botanical Gardens are the important fragment of elfin forest situated above the Hakgala Botanical Gardens.

Kalametiya

Kalametiya is a wetland with two brackish lagoons, mangrove swamps and open areas with pockets of scrub jungle. It is a very important site for migrant shorebirds.