Birds
Sri Lanka has more than 400 species of birds, of which 21 are unique to the island, and many more are only found in south India. Travelling through the country, it is easy to see them at fairly close quarters. Many perch conveniently on telephone wires, displaying their colourful plumage at the roadside. 

Birds in Town and Garden
There are many birds that seem to be as much at home in the city as in the country. At first it seems that the ever-present crows, of which there are two species, are the only birds in town, rooting through dustbins and dodging traffic, but a dawn walk will provide a fair bird list. There are the sweet-songed black and white magpie robin, the green barbet, the golden oriole, which migrates from India, and the noisy, chattering grey Indian babbler, as well as bulbuls, noisy flocks of parakeets and the chocolate- coloured mynah. Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo will give the city-bound twitcher a swift fix. 
Wetland Birds
Both coastal and inland wetlands provide great opportunities for the birdwatcher, and if you're not a twitcher you soon will be after observing the spectacular show that is put on daily at any tank or lagoon. Cormorants and snake birds are the diving champions, whilst plovers and waders keep to the muddy banks. The painted stork ventures further in search of crabs, frogs and water snakes and with luck you may spot a kingfisher waiting to pounce. One bird even most amateurish ornithologist will be able to identify is the spoonbill, swishing the water from side to side, like a diner searching for something in his soup. Another strange creature is the pheasant-tailed jacana, which has developed elongated toes for walking across lily pads.

Forest Dwellers
The rarer rainforest and mountain birds are not at all difficult to spot if you visit any of the parks or sanctuaries. In contradiction of the proverb, birds of a different feather do flock together, including leafbirds, flycatchers and babblers. The brilliant blue magpie lives in groups in the hill forests, feed- ing on insects. The pied ground thrush got its name because it has variegated markings on its wings and is often found foraging through leaf litter. The Malabar-trogon is widespread in Sri Lanka, the male easily identifiable by his bright red breast and black head. Others to look for are the yellow-green Ceylon iora, the wedge-tailed drongo, as well as barbets, parrots and minivets in the original forests of the wet zone mountains. An infamous bird of the forests is the "devil bird", so named for the horrifying sound of its call that is uttered in the middle of the night. Although it is not difficult to hear, no one has positively iden- tified the maker of these sounds. The raucous call of the bizarre Malabar pied hornbill in the dry zone will guide you to the flocks that live on the tallest tree tops.

Biros of Prey 
Other birds regularly seen on drives around the island are raptors, in particular hawks and eagles. Most of the reservoirs have the fishing tank eagle or the white-bellied sea eagle. Mountains with cliffs are frequented by the black eagle and the mountain hawk eagle, the brahiminy kite, and the serpent eagle, which are all predators who prey on small mammals and birds.