A scarce ground bird found in the dense forests of the southern half of the island.  Strictly a forest bird that can be seen occasionally in the hills up to about 2000 metres, but commonest in the wet zone.  Very shy and secretive.  More often heard than seen.  The unmistakable loud ‘ringing cakle’ revealing its…

Another ground bird distributed throughout the island from the sea level up to the highest hills.  It is shy and wary but in areas adjoining jungle it can be very tame and behaves like a village fowl.  The handsome male is unmistakable with its elongated comb with a yellow spot, orange-red body with the black…

This dark purplish grey pigeon is unmistakable with its chess-board like pattern on the neck.  Vinous underparts and broad tail.  Sexes alike.  Juvenile is duller and has only a hint of the chess-board on the neck.  A scarce forest pigeon of montane forests and nearby well-wooded habitats in the higher hills, occasionally descending to the…

This handsome pigeon is by far the commonest of the Green Pigeons occurring almost throughout the low country and ascending the hills to about 1000 metres or occasionally even higher.  It inhabits both forest, and well-wooded cultivation and home gardens.  This pigeon is arboreal, lives in small flocks and moves about a good deal.  The…

This brilliantly coloured little parrot occurs everywhere in the hills up to about  1300 metres.  It also inhabits the low-country wet zone.  Like other parakeets of the island this is also a green bird with short tail.  Bright red crown shade in to orange in the nape and mantle area.  Rump area is deep red. …

Layard’s Parakeet has blue grey head and mantle, emerald green collar and green underparts. Has a short blue tail with yellowish tip.  Bill of the male is coral red while the duller female has it blackish.  A rather uncommon parakeet which mainly inhabits forested areas of the wet zone.  Smaller numbers occur in the drier…

An unmistakable large bird, with crimson red face, strong pale green bill, white underparts with black breast.  The long graduated tail has white edges and tip.  Dark upperparts has a green sheen.  Female’s iris is white while the male has it brown.  A rare forest bird, mainly inhabiting large rain forests at lower elevations of…

This coucal is slightly smaller than the more common Greater Coucal from which it can be readily distinguished by its large pale-green bill.  The wings are darker chestnut than the Greater Coucal’s.  Has a purple sheen on the head and neck.  Sexes alike.  A rare forest loving bird that inhabits the dense under growth of…

A small rufescent scops-owl with a short tail.  No noticeable ear tufts.  Not so distinct facial disk.  Upperparts are almost completely rufous brown with dark markings.  Under parts are paler rufous with dark triangular spots.  Irides are yellowish in the female and orangish in the male.  This newly described owl has so far been located…

This handsome little owl with its chestnut back, scapulars and wing-coverts has its white underparts marked with blackish shaft-streaks with bars on flanks.  Irides bright yellow and feet pale yellow.  Sexes alike.  A fairly common owlet in the wet zone but does not ascend higher hills.  Lives in pairs and often can be heard and…