Common Birds in Sri Lanka
Our list for Sri Lanka has 15 common birds recorded regularly there: 11 residents and 4 winter visitors
Most likely in October
GBIF · OctShare of all bird records in Sri Lanka in October, 2019–2024. Each month links to that month’s page.
All 15, most common first
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentCommon38–42 cmRecorded all year
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaWinter visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Sep–Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentCommon86–230 cmRecorded all year
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year
Purple HeronArdea purpureaResidentCommon78–90 cmRecorded all year
Indian RobinCopsychus fulicatusResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Apr
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaWinter visitorCommon19–21 cmRegularly Jul–Apr
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year
Smallest to largest
Length, cm- Scaly-breasted Munia 11–12 cm
- House Sparrow 14–17 cm
- Indian Robin 15–17 cm
- Common Kingfisher 16–17 cm
- Barn Swallow 17–19 cm
- Common Sandpiper 18–20 cm
- Wood Sandpiper 19–21 cm
- Redshank 27–29 cm
- Rock Dove 29–37 cm
- Rose-ringed Parakeet 38–42 cm
- Little Egret 55–65 cm
- Purple Heron 78–90 cm
- Great White Egret 80–104 cm
- Grey Heron 90–98 cm
- Indian Peafowl 86–230 cm
Body length, bill to tail. Rare birds in grey.
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made