Black-headed Bunting (Melophus melanocephalus)

Rare vagrant to grasslands. It typically forages on the ground, but also feeds in bushes and low trees. The Black-headed Bunting feeds mainly on invertebrates during the breeding season, supplemented by seeds and other plant material. In winter, it feeds largely on seeds and cultivated cereal crops such as wheat, rice, sorghum, and millet. It breeds from southeastern Europe east through southern Russia, Turkey, the Caucasus, and the Middle East to Iran, possibly extending into western Pakistan. It winters mainly in India, with smaller numbers occurring in Nepal.

Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus)

Rare vagrant to forests, scrublands and grasslands, possibly occurring more frequently in the hill country. It feeds mainly on seeds, fruits, buds and pollen. The Common Rosefinch breeds widely across northern Eurasia, from Scandinavia and eastern Europe through Russia, Mongolia and northern China to Japan. It winters from southern Iran and the Indian subcontinent eastwards through Myanmar and Indochina to southern China.

Eastern Marsh Harrier (Circus spilonotus)

A rare vagrant to marshlands, reedbeds, and other open habitats. The Eastern Marsh Harrier typically flies low over the ground and feeds mainly on birds. It breeds in north-east China, Mongolia, and south-east Siberia, and winters across China, Taiwan, Korea, southern Japan, north-east India, Bangladesh, and Southeast Asia, extending south to the Philippines, Borneo, and Sumatra.

Daurian Starling (Agropsar sturninus)

A rare migrant found locally in lowland open woodlands, forest edges, secondary growth, shrublands, and cultivated areas. During its stay in Sri Lanka, it occurs singly, in pairs, or in small flocks. Daurian Starling breeds in Northeast Asia and winters in Southeast Asia.

Black-naped Tern (Sterna sumatrana)

 A very rare vagrant with only a few recorded sightings in Sri Lanka. The first record was made on 3rd September 1994 by Laksiri Karunaratne several kilometers off the coast of Colombo. A later sighting by Lahiru Walpita at Olaiththoduvai of the Mananr island on 25th May 2025, supported by photographic evidence, is probably the second record, while the third was reported from Mount Lavinia Beach by Gary Allport and Moditha Kodikara Arachchi on 15th May 2026.

It breeds on tropical islands of the Indian Ocean, including the Andaman and Maldives islands, as well as in the western Pacific. It feeds mainly on fish in the clear waters around offshore islets, usually by picking prey from the water surface and occasionally by plunge-diving, often in association with other terns. The breeding season extends from May to July, during which it nests in dispersed colonies.

 

Mongolian Short-toed Lark (Calandrella dukhunensis)

A rare vagrant to the open, dry grassy and weedy habitats of the low country. During its stay in Sri Lanka, it occurs either as solitary individuals or in small flocks. It feeds mainly on small invertebrates such as insects, beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and spiders, as well as on plant material including seeds, buds, grasses, and occasionally fruits and flowers. It forages on the ground, often sitting still for long periods or running about, sometimes digging into the soil with its bill. The Mongolian Short-toed Lark breeds on the steppes of eastern Mongolia and adjoining regions of China and Russia.

Chinese Pond-Heron (Ardeola bacchus)

Very rare vagrant bird with few sight records in Sri Lanka. It breeds in Assam and Burma to Eastern China and Manchuria and in the Andaman islands. Non-breeding and immature Chinese Pond-Herons are indistinguishable from the common resident Indian Pond-Herons. However, during the breeding season, the Chinese Pond-Heron's distinctive maroon-chestnut head and neck make identification easier. As a result, all recorded sightings of this species in Sri Lanka have occurred at the end of the migratory season. 

Chinese Pond Heron was first time recorded in Sri Lanka by Dieter Zingel (Germany) on 30^th April 1995 at Deberawewa (Hoffmann, T. W., 1996). Later on sight record(s) available by Rex. I. de Silva from Negambo Lagoon (Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2017: 258)

There is also a observation of two birds with photographic evidences on 16th May 2020 by Thishan Jeevaka Perera at Halmillagolawa Wewa, Saliya Wewa, Puttalam, according to the Ceylon Bird Club notes (https://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/the_ceylon_bird_club_news.php)

Recent observations reported in the eBird with photographic evidences

1) A single bird with breeding plumage by Alexander Cherinko at Flooded Fields near Rekawa Beach, Tangalle, Hambantota on 25th April 2021
2) A single bird with breeding plumage by Edmundas Greimas Sigiriya Water Garden, Dambulla, Matale on 8th April 2024
3) A single bird with breeding plumage by Tharaka Dhananjaya, Ashan Tharaka Piyasinghe and Osanda Dissanayake at Anavilundawa Bird sanctuary on 4th April 2025.

References:

• Hoffmann, T. W., 1996. Ceylon Bird Club Notes 1995. Loris, 21(1), 16-18.
• Kotagama, S., Ratnavira, G. 2010. An illustrated Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka. Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, Colombo

Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka)

Very rare vagrant* in open stony habitats, where it perches on stones, clods and the like, and flies low over the ground. It has a habit of often oscillating the tail up and down. It feeds on small ground insects. Pied Wheatear breeds in Central Palearctic and winters in East Africa to Middle East. 

*G.M. Henry in 16 November 1943 observed an exhausted female bird in its winter plumage in a Colombo garden probably after arriving presumably from India. He has confirmed his identification after comparing his notes and sketches he had taken during many minutes of his observations with specimens at the British Natural History Museum. (Henry G.M. 1998: 380) There is another sight record of Pied Wheatear on passage between Sri Lanka and Maldives islands (Repley S.D. 1982: 471). 

Single female bird reported by Ravi Dharshana with photographic evidence on 9th January of 2025 at Port City - Colombo is probably the third record of Pied Wheatear in Sri Lanka.

Blyth's Swift (Apus leuconyx)

 Very rare vagrant bird with few sight records in Sri Lanka. Blyth's Swift breeds in Himalayas from Murree Hills to Assam valley and in South Assam Hills and is a winter visitor to India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. As it is with all other swifts, Blyth's Swift feeds entirely on flying insects.  

Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus)

 A rare vagrant inhabiting open areas like mud flat fringes or sand dunes with scattered bushes or grassy or reedy clumps for vantage points. It perches on low vegetation and often makes short flights to ground to catch insects. 

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (Merops persicus)

 A vagrant bird first time observed in Sri Lanka at Madiwela paddy fields of Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte on 23rd of May 2024 by  Priyanath Kotalawela. It feeds mainly on flying insects like dragonflies, bees, wasps etc. in open areas near water including seashores.  Blue-cheeked Bee-eater breeds in North Africa to West Asia. 

Second Record - 2024/05/28 of May 24 by Sivalingam Nithushan from Mannar.

Annotated checklist of vagrant Cisticolas and allies (Family: Cisticolidae) of Sri Lanka

    Birds that appear outside their normal range are known as vagrants. This post listed up to date published sight records of single *unconfirmed vagrant of the family Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and allies) in Sri Lanka.   

      1)Rufescent Prinia (Prinia rufescens)

Single sight record at Kotte in 1989 by Rex.I. de Silva is the only record (Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2010:283)

References:

Kotagama, S., Ratnavira, G. 2010. An illustrated Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka. Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, Colombo.

*Species for which there are only one or two sight records exist categorized here as unconfirmed vagrants. Problematic records without sufficient details are also included.  

Indochinese Cuckooshrike (Annotated checklist of vagrant Cuckooshrikes (Family: Campephagidae) of Sri Lanka)

      Birds that appear outside their normal range are known as vagrants. This post listed up to date published sight records of single *unconfirmed vagrant of the family Campephagidae (Cuckooshrikes  and Minivets) in Sri Lanka.   

     1) Indochinese Cuckooshrike (Coracina polioptera)

Single sight record at Sigiriya in February 1993 by A.J. Vincent is the only record. (Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2010:287).

References:
Kotagama, S., Ratnavira, G. 2010. An illustrated Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka. Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, Colombo.

*Species for which there are only one or two sight records exist categorized here as unconfirmed vagrants. Problematic records without sufficient details are also included. 

Pied Fantail (Annotated checklist of vagrant Fantails (Family: Rhipiduridae) of Sri Lanka)

      Birds that appear outside their normal range are known as vagrants. This post listed up to date published sight records of single *unconfirmed vagrant of the family Rhipiduridae (Fantails) in Sri Lanka.

  

      1)Pied Fantail (Rhipidura javanica)

Single sight record of A.J. Vincent at Yala National Park in April 1994 is the only record. (Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2010: 276).

References:

Kotagama, S., Ratnavira, G. 2010. An illustrated Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka. Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, Colombo.

*Species for which there are only one or two sight records exist categorized here as unconfirmed vagrants. Problematic records without sufficient details are also included. 

Slender-billed Oriole (Annotated checklist of vagrant Orioles (Family: Oriolidae) of Sri Lanka)

      Birds that appear outside their normal range are known as vagrants. This post listed up to date published sight records of the single *unconfirmed vagrant of the family Oriolidae (Orioles ) in Sri Lanka.

      1) Slender-billed Oriole (Oriolus tenuirostris)

Single sight record at Bundala available according to the Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G (Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2010: 274 Quoting CBCN 2002, Dec: 250). A sight record of single bird on 31^st December 2003 at Bundala national park is listed in Appendix 2 (http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/Appendix-II.pdf) of CBC under the criteria of the report ‘lacks sufficient diagnostic detail or, where necessary, sufficient comparison with ‘confusion’ species or subspecies; and there is therefore doubt as to the identification of the bird concerned’. Neither 2002 nor 2003 annual reviews of CBC notes contain both sight records mentioned above (Siriwardana, U., 2003 & Warakagoda, D., 2004)

References:
Kotagama, S., Ratnavira, G. 2010. An illustrated Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka. Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, Colombo.
Siriwardana, U., 2003. Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 2002. Loris, 23(3&4), 36-39.
Warakagoda, D., 2004. Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 2003 Loris, 23(5&6), 36-41

*Species for which there are only one or two sight records exist categorized here as unconfirmed vagrants. Problematic records without sufficient details are also included. 

Chestnut-shouldered Petronia (Annotated checklist of vagrant Sparrows (Family: Passeridae) recorded in Sri Lanka)

Birds that appear outside their normal range are known as vagrants. This post summarizes up to date published sight records of vagrants of the family Passeridae (Sparrows & allies) in Sri Lanka.

Chestnut-shouldered Petronia[Yellow-throated Sparrow] (Petronia xanthocollis xanthocollis)

Legge procured two specimens from a considerable flock in company with a number of Weaver birds, on some openly-wooded grass-land near the sea, close to Madampe while on a trip to Chilaw in October 1876. It is the only record hitherto of this species in Sri Lanka (Legge 1880: 783).

References:

Legge V., 1880. A History of the birds of Ceylon  1983 second edition.

Vagrant Thrushes (Family: Turdidae) recorded in Sri Lanka

     Birds that appear outside their normal range are known as vagrants. This post summarizes up to date published sight records of vagrants of the family Turdidae (Thrushes ) in Sri Lanka.    

     1) Eyebrowed Thrush [Dark Thrush] (Turdus obscurus)

Graham Speight of UK reported a bird first time on 24^th February 1994 at Nuwaraeliya. The same bird was reported by Ole F. Jakobsen in Forktail 10 (February 1995) as having been seen on 5^th February 1994 (Hoffmann, T. W., 1995) A sight record of it again reported from Nuwaraeliya in February 2002 (Siriwardana, U., 2003). Another bird observed at Horton plains NP on December 2005 (Sirivardana U. & Warakagoda  D. , 2006). Subsequent sights records are--

• On 28 January 2014 Rohan Gunasekara reported a single bird with several Pied Ground Thrushes from the Victoria Park of Nuwaraeliya (http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/the_ceylon_bird_club_news.php)
• Moditha Kodikara Arachchi reported a single bird from the Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya.(Posted in http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/the_ceylon_bird_club_news.php on 1st  February 2015)

References:

Hoffmann, T. W., 1995. Ceylon Bird Club Notes 1994. Loris, 20(5), 226-227.
Siriwardana, U., 2003. Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 2002. Loris, 23(3&4), 36-39.

Sirivardana U. & Warakagoda  D. , 2006. Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 2005 Loris 24(3& 4), 24 - 28

Annotated checklist of vagrant Shrikes (Family: Laniidae) recorded in Sri Lanka

     Birds that appear outside their normal range are known as vagrants. This post summarizes up to date published sight records of vagrants of the family Laniidae (Shrikes) in Sri Lanka.

Great Grey Shrike [Northern Shrike/Southern Grey Shrike](Lanius excubitor meridionalis)

First sight record of it is from a scrub jungle on the outskirts of paddy cultivation near Kekirawa during December 1940 (Phillips W.W.A, 1978). Second record is from 6-7^th mile of Murunkan - Silavaturai Road in May 1974 (Hoffmann, T. W., 1975).

Several other sightings are - 

1) Single bird from Maho in January 1978 (Hoffmann, T. W.,1979), 

2) Single bird (Pied Shrike?) from Pannikar villu-Wilpattu in January 1983 (Hoffmann, T. W., 1984), 

3) Single bird at Hantana in January 1985 (Hoffmann, T. W., 1986), 

4) Two sighting in February 1986 - one at Buttuwa in Yala and other one at Horton plains (Hoffmann, T. W., 1987) 

5) Sighting of two birds at Ampitiya in January 1992 (Hoffmann, T. W.. 1993)

Reference:

Hoffmann, T. W., 1975. Notes From The Ceylon Bird Club, 1974. Loris, 13(5), 275-276.

Hoffmann, T. W., 1979. Note from the Ceylon Bird club 1978. Loris, 15(1), p6-8.

Hoffmann, T. W., 1984. Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club 1983. Loris, 16(6), 299-301.

Hoffmann, T. W., 1986. Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club 1985. Loris, 17(3), 99-101.

Hoffmann, T. W., 1987. Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club 1986. Loris, 17(5), 209-210

Hoffmann, T. W., 1993. Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club, 1992. Loris, 20(1), p12-14.

Phillips W.W.A, 1978. Annotated checklist of the Birds of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 1978 revised edition

Small Buttonquail (Annotated checklist of vagrant Buttonquails(Family: Turnicidae) of Sri Lanka)

      Birds that appear outside their normal range are known as vagrants. This post listed up to date published sight records of the single *unconfirmed vagrant of the family Turnicidae (Buttonquails) in Sri Lanka.

      1) Small Buttonquail (Turnix sylvaticus dussumier)

Single sight record from the Buttuwa wewa area of the Yala national park in February 1978 by Dr. Ben King, an American ornithologist, is the only record of the occurrence of this bird in Sri Lanka (Hoffmann, T. W. 1979 & Hoffmann, T. W., 1978)

References:
    

     Hoffmann, T. W., 1979. Note from the Ceylon Bird club 1978. Loris, 15(1), p 6-8.

     Hoffmann, T. W., 1978. New birds in Sri Lanka. Loris, 14(5), 308.

     *Species for which there are only one or two sight records exist are categorized here as unconfirmed vagrants. Problematic records without sufficient details are also included.  

Lesser Flamingo (Annotated checklist of vagrant Flamingos (Family: Phoenicopteridae) of Sri Lanka)

      Birds that appear outside their normal range are known as vagrants. This post listed up to date published sight records of a single *unconfirmed vagrant of the family Phoenicopteridae (Flamingos) in Sri Lanka.

* Species for which there are only one or two sight records exist categorized here as unconfirmed vagrants. Problematic records without sufficient details are also included.

     1) Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor)

Although definite evidence were lacking there were references to the possible presence of Lesser flamingos among Greater Flamingos in Hambantota area in September 1975 (Hoffmann, T. W., 1976). As per Kotagama & Ratnavira only record of Lesser Flamingo migrating to the Sri Lanka is the four birds recorded in a lagoon near Hambantota in 4^th January 1983 (Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2010: 170 Quoting CBCN 1984, Dec: 43). However CBC has listed this sight record under Appendix 2 of its country list (http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/Appendix-II.pdf)) under the criteria of the report ‘lacks sufficient diagnostic detail or, where necessary, sufficient comparison with ‘confusion’ species or subspecies; and there is therefore doubt as to the identification of the bird concerned’. However CBC web site posted a recent sight record on 19th February 2013 of two Lesser Flamingos from Jaffna on the Karainagar Causeway reported by Uditha Hettige, Lester Perera and Udaya Sirivardana (http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/the_ceylon_bird_club_news.php).

References:

Hoffmann, T. W., 1976. Notes from the Bird Club 1975. Loris, 14(1), 35-36.
Kotagama, S., Ratnavira, G., 2010. An illustrated Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka. Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, Colombo.