Changeable Hawk-Eagle(Spizaetus cirrhatus)

Changeable hawk-eagle is a rather common breeding resident mainly inhabits low country dry zone(less common in wet zone) and medium elevations of the hills up to 1500m. It keeps its habitats to open forest areas and grasslands with trees such as chena cultivations and tank borders spending much of its time perch on an exposed branch of a tree, looking out of prey which consists mainly of lizards, rodents and birds upon which it pounces with unexpected rush. It breeds during early months of the year and sometimes in June-July. Nest a large platform of sticks and twigs build about 12 – 30m up in a tall tree generally on a hill side or edge of a ravine. Both sexes share in building the nest though only female incubate. Most of the time clutch size is a single egg.

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පිළිහුඩුවා[Pilihuduwa]/White -Throated Kingfisher(Halcyon smyrnensis)

Very common breeding resident of all zones though less abundant at higher elevations. Usually perch on roadside telephone wires or similar vantage point in open areas, often well away from water and pounce upon its prey which basically consists of grasshoppers, small lizards, frogs, earthworms, beetles, mantises, etc. It is said that fish only a secondary food item of this kingfisher unlike other members of its family. Its call note which is a loud rattling scream somewhat like red-backed woodpecker’s flight call, uttered when it takes wings and short chick often uttered when waiting on a post or an exposed branch for its prey. Nesting burrow of this kingfisher is a dug in a river bank, a tank bank or even road side cutting (again not closer to water) and sloping upward tunnel ends in a widened egg chamber. Nesting period extends from December to June while peak season is March -April. It is observed that to feed its young white-throated kingfisher take small birds such as sunbirds, Munias and tailor birds.

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සිවුරු හොරා/සුදු-රෙදි හොරා[siwuru hora/ sudhu redhi hora ]Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi)

Two distinct races T.P.paradisi a winter visitor to island during North-East monsoon from India and resident race T.P.ceylonensis occurs in Sri Lanka. It is also believed that resident race which is confined to the low country dry zone during its breeding season, has local migrations in other months of the year. Migrant race with white phase of male popularly known as Sudu redi hora (Sudu redi - white cloth, Hora - thief) can be seen all over the island up to 1700m in forests and garden habitats but only in migratory season. Endemic sub species with orange brown males got its vernacular name Siwuru hora( Siwuru - robes of Buddhist monks) due to its plumage color which is very much similar to color of robe of Buddhist monks is a bird of low country dry zone though move into the wet zone during the migratory season. Female of both races and juveniles like brown phase male but lack the streamers. Food consists entirely of insects taking on the wings.

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