TARGETS
SPECIALTIES

TISSA LAKE

SRI LANKA
LOCALE

# Species:236
# Excl Vagrants:236
# Endemics:15
# 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

 
Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae

9Rock PigeonColumba livia
10Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaocto
11Spotted DoveSpilopelia chinensis
12Asian Emerald DoveChalcophaps indica
13Orange-breasted Green-PigeonTreron bicinctus
14Sri Lanka Green-PigeonTreron pompadora
15Green Imperial-PigeonDucula aenea

 
Cuckoos: Cuculidae

16Indian CuckooCuculus micropterus
17Greater CoucalCentropus sinensis
18Sirkeer MalkohaTaccocua leschenaultii
19Blue-faced MalkohaPhaenicophaeus viridirostris
20Pied CuckooClamator jacobinus
21Asian KoelEudynamys scolopaceus
22Gray-bellied CuckooCacomantis passerinus

 
Nightjars and Allies: Caprimulgidae

23Jungle NightjarCaprimulgus indicus
24Jerdon's NightjarCaprimulgus atripennis
25Indian NightjarCaprimulgus asiaticus

 
Swifts: Apodidae

26Brown-backed NeedletailHirundapus giganteus
27Indian SwiftletAerodramus unicolor
28Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melba
29Little SwiftApus affinis
30Asian Palm SwiftCypsiurus balasiensis

 
Treeswifts: Hemiprocnidae

31Crested TreeswiftHemiprocne coronata

 
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Rallidae

32Slaty-breasted RailLewinia striatus
33Eurasian MoorhenGallinula chloropus
34Eurasian CootFulica atra
35Gray-headed SwamphenPorphyrio poliocephalus
36WatercockGallicrex cinerea
37White-breasted WaterhenAmaurornis phoenicurus
38Ruddy-breasted CrakeZapornia fusca

 
Thick-knees: Burhinidae

39Great Thick-kneeEsacus recurvirostris
40Indian Thick-kneeBurhinus indicus

 
Stilts and Avocets: Recurvirostridae

41Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus

 
Plovers and Lapwings: Charadriidae

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

 
Painted-Snipes: Rostratulidae

51Greater Painted-SnipeRostratula benghalensis

 
Jacanas: Jacanidae

52Pheasant-tailed JacanaHydrophasianus chirurgus

 
Sandpipers and Allies: Scolopacidae

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

 
Buttonquail: Turnicidae

72Barred ButtonquailTurnix suscitator

 
Pratincoles and Coursers: Glareolidae

73Small PratincoleGlareola lactea
74Oriental PratincoleGlareola maldivarum

 
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Laridae

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

 
Grebes: Podicipedidae

84Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis

 
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

 
Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae

94/Glossy Ibis/Plegadis falcinellus
95Black-headed IbisThreskiornis melanocephalus
96Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia

 
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns: Ardeidae

97Black BitternBotaurus flavicollis
98Cinnamon BitternBotaurus cinnamomeus
99Yellow BitternBotaurus sinensis
100Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticorax
101Malayan Night HeronGorsachius melanolophus
102Little EgretEgretta garzetta
103Western Reef-HeronEgretta gularis
104Striated HeronButorides striata
105Indian Pond-HeronArdeola grayii
106Eastern Cattle-EgretBubulcus coromandus
107Great EgretArdea alba
108Medium EgretArdea intermedia
109Gray HeronArdea cinerea
110Purple HeronArdea purpurea

 
Pelicans: Pelecanidae

111Spot-billed PelicanPelecanus philippensis

 
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
119BesraTachyspiza virgatus
120ShikraTachyspiza badius
121/Western Marsh Harrier/Circus aeruginosus
122Brahminy KiteHaliastur indus
123White-bellied Sea-EagleIcthyophaga leucogaster
124Gray-headed Fish-EagleIcthyophaga ichthyaetus
125/Common Buzzard/Buteo buteo

 
Barn-Owls: Tytonidae

126American Barn OwlTyto furcata

 
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

 
Bee-eaters: Meropidae

134Asian Green Bee-eaterMerops orientalis
135/Blue-tailed Bee-eater/Merops philippinus
136/European Bee-eater/Merops apiaster
137Chestnut-headed Bee-eaterMerops leschenaulti

 
Kingfishers: Alcedinidae

138Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
139Stork-billed KingfisherPelargopsis capensis
140White-throated KingfisherHalcyon smyrnensis
141Black-capped KingfisherHalcyon pileata
142Pied KingfisherCeryle rudis

 
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

176Asian TitParus cinereus

 
Larks: Alaudidae

177Ashy-crowned Sparrow-LarkEremopterix griseus
178Jerdon's BushlarkPlocealauda 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
192Eastern Red-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

 
Parrotbills: Paradoxornithidae

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
214Sri Lankan ShamaCopsychus leggei
215/Indian Blue Robin/Larvivora brunnea
216Isabelline WheatearOenanthe isabellina

 
Flowerpeckers: Dicaeidae

217Thick-billed FlowerpeckerPachyglossa 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.