රතඹලා/රත් මල්[Ratambala/Rath Mal]/Jungle Flame (Ixora coccinea)

Very common indigenous tree found in forest margins and scrublands of the low country. Also in forest understory and cultivates in home gardens as an ornamental plant. Flowering throughout the year. Whole plant use by traditional medicinal practitioners. 

Black-capped Bulbul (Pycnonotus melanicterus)

Black-capped Bulbul is a locally common endemic bird of forests, well wooded areas and adjoining home gardens from lowlands to mid hills, while more common in wet zone and riverine habitats of the dry zone. It lives as pairs or small family parties. Its food mainly consists on fruits, berries and insects. The breeding season is from March to April and again in August-September. The nest is a small cup well concealed among foliage of a low bush or small tree. 

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>

අන්නාසි[Annasi]/Pineapple (Ananas comosus)

Pineapple is a native plant of eastern South America which was introduced to Sri Lnaka and cultivates in commercial cultivations and home gardens for its edible fruit. Escapes of the cultivations sometimes grow in dry rocky places with hardy fruits with darker syncarp and they are known as ‘Galannasi’.

Danaid Eggfly (Hypolimnas misippus)

An uncommon butterfly found from sea level to about 3500ft a.s.l. It is particularly common in low country dry zone during the north east monsoon. It takes part in migrations. W. Ormiston noted that once he encountered thousands of them both male and female settling on the road from about the 36^th to the 28^th mile of  Wellawaya - Hambantota road while he was walking to Tanamalvila (Ormiston W. 1924). Female mimic the Plain tiger and most remarkable thing is, it mimics both forms of with and without subapical markings of the model (i.e. Plain tiger) . Its larval food plants are Asystasia gangetica (පුරුක්/Ganges primrose/Chinese violet), Blepharis integrifolia, Blepharis maderaspatensis (සමාදාන/Creeping blepharis), Dyschoriste madurensis, Ruellia tuberosa (නිල් පුරුක්/Wayside tuberose/Minnieroot), Portulaca oleracea (ගෙඳ කොළ/Moss rose/Sun plant/Common purselane), Dyschoriste nagchana and Portulaca quadrifida

දිය හබරල/ජබර[Diyahabarala/Jabara]/Pickerel weed/Lesser water hyacinth (Pontederia vaginalis [Syn: Monochoria vaginalis])

An indigenous herb common in marshy places like paddy fields, tank edges etc. in the lowland areas. Leaves edible and also use in medicine. 

Golden-fronted Leafbird/Gold-fronted Chloropsis (chloropsis aurifrons)

An uncommon breeding resident of forests and neighboring  well wooded gardens and plantations from lowlands to mid hills. It feeds on insects, berries and nectar of some flowers. Golden-fronted Leafbird  lives as pairs. It breeds early in the year and nest is a shallow cup well concealed among foliage, where it lays two  eggs. 

දියමෙනේරිය[Diya-meneriya]/Benghal dayflower/Whiskered[Garden] commelina(Commelina benghalensis)

An indigenous herb native to the Southeast Asia. It grows in waste lands and roadsides from sea level to about 1000m a.s.l of the island. 

Ceylon snow flat (Tagiades japetus obscurus)

An uncommon butterfly occurs in lowland to mid hills of wet zone forests.  It is a migratory species and Ormiston noted of ‘flights’ of Ceylon snow flats with Water snow flats together at Haldummulla toward west (Ormiston 1924). But usually it flies a short distance and settles with its wings expanded on the under side of a leaf. Its larva feeds on Dioscorea trimenii, Dioscorea alata, Dioscorea bulbifera, Dioscorea oppositifolia, Dioscorea pentaphylla, Dioscorea tomentosa and Dioscorea koyamae of the family Dioscoreacea. Female has more white on its hind wings than male(figured here).

වල් දෙල්/බැදි දෙල්/හිංගල දෙල්[Wal del/Bedi-del]/Hingala-del (Artocarpus nobilis)

An endemic tree common in wet zone forests and village gardens.  Seeds edible and wood use in construction industry. 

ලතුවැකියා[Lathuwakiya]/Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala)

Common breeding resident in tanks, marshes, and lagoons of dry lowlands. Small introduced (Escaped birds from the Dehiwela zoo) population also present in Colombo and nearby wetlands. It lives as small parties though sometime solitary individuals as well as large flocks can be seen. Its prey consists of fish, frogs, water snakes, crabs, lizards etc. G.M. Henry noted a strange behavior of this stork of ‘whitewashing’ its legs, while at rest, by squirting excreta over them (Henry G.M. 1998). Painted Stork breeds during early months of the year colonially with other water birds on rather small nest made out of sticks place on top of a tree usually growing in water. 

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>

King’s mantle, Bush clock-vine (Thunbergia erecta)

Introduced from the West tropical Africa where it is a native plant. Now it is commonly cultivating in home gardens. It is a shrub grows about 150cm with flowering throughout the year. 

Common Lineblue (Prosotas nora ardates)

Common butterfly found in all elevations of the island throughout the year. It occurs in two color forms. Yellow form (as figured here) doesn't occurs without tail and typical or grey form sometime do occurs without tails (D’  Abrersa1998). Its larval food plants are Archidendron clypearia subsp. subcoriaceum (මිමිණි මාර), Dalbergia rostrata, Terminalia catappa (කොට්ටම්බා/කොට්ටන්/Indian almond/Country almons),  Senegalia caesia (හිඟුරු-වැල්), Acacia pennata (ගොඩ හිඟුරු), Bauhinia racemosa (මයිල), Derris scandens (කල වැල්), Pithecellobium dulce (මැනිලා සියඹලා/Madras thorn/Manila Tamarind), Croton aromaticus, Calliandra calothyrsus (Calliandra), Calliandra surinamensis,  Samanea saman (මාර/පිනි මාර/පාරෙ මාර/Rain tree), Murraya koenigii (කරපිංචා),  Allophylus cobbe (බූ-කොබ්බෑ\කොබ්බෑ), Pterocarpus indicus and  Pongamia pinnata(මගුල් කරඳ). Egg laying was also observed on Sambucus javanica (Himalayan Elder). 

 

කහ කුරුල්ලා[Kaha Kurulla]/Black-hooded Oriole/Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus xanthornus ceylonensis)

Black-hooded Oriole is a common breeding resident of the country inhabiting forests, gardens and such wooded places from lowlands to mid hills. It feeds on fruits and insects by flying from tree to tree usually as pairs or as small family parties. The breeding season lasts from October to May. 

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>

Valentine/Starburst Clerodendrum (Clerodendrum quadriloculare)

Native shrub of Philippines, cultivated in home gardens and also possible escaping and naturalizing in some natural habitats.

Lesser Albatross (Appias galene)

Lesser Albatross was a butterfly plentiful all over the island in all the year round (Ormiston W. 1924). Even during 1990s D’ Abrera mentioned it as “One of the very commonest butterflies on the island.... And one of the principal species that comprise the huge migrations of pieridae that sometimes fly across the country for days at a time” (D'abrera 1998). However today the situation is not so though still it is  a common species which found in intermediate to dry zones forests and in other elevations during the migratory season.  Its larva feeds on leaves of Drypetes sepiaria ( Egg laying was also observed on Drypetes gardneri leaves)

White-naped Woodpecker/Black-rumped Woodpecker/Black-backed Yellow Woodpecker (Chrysocolaptes festivus)

Rather uncommon breeding resident found in dry low lands, mainly in coconut plantations. Scattered and local populations sometime occur in wet lowlands (e.g. Gampaha).  Its food consists of wood boring insects and seeds. The breeding season is from January to March and probably again from August to September and nest hole often hewn in the trunk of a coconut tree where it lays two eggs. 

මල් මාර/රතු මාර [Mal Mara/Rathu Mara]/Flame tree/Flamboyant/Golden Mohur (Delonix regia)

Native tree of Madagascar. Introduced into Sri Lanka before 1841 according to the H.F. Macmillan (Tropical planting and gardening with special reference to Ceylon, 1910) Flowering from February to May. It is a popular avenue tree along many roads especially of Colombo. It is also cultivated in home gardens as an ornamental tree.

Brown King Crow (Euploea klugii Sinhala)

Common insect flies all over the island throughout the year. Plentiful in dry zone and scarce in higher hills. It take part in migrations. Brown King Crow's food plant in larval stage are Streblus zeylanicus and Streblus asper of the family Moraceae. Brown King Crow is mimicked by female of the Great Eggfly, both sexes of Common Palmfly and Common mime.

Great Eggfly/Common Eggfly (Hypolimns bolina)

Great Eggfly flies all over the island particularly in forested areas. However it is common during the north east monsoon period. It takes part in migrations. Larva feeds on Ageratum conyzoides (හුලන් තලා/Goat weed/White weed), Synedrella nodiflora (Nodeweed), Sida cordata (බැවිල/Heart Leaf Fan Petals) and Urena lobata (පට්ට ඇපල/ඇපල/Caesar weed/Bur mallow). Egg laying was also observed on Phaulopsis dorsiflora but larva that emerged from these eggs refused to feed on it. Larva also fed on Sida rhombifolia (කොටිකන් බැබිල/බැබිල/Paddy's luceme) when offered. 

Yellow Featherleg (Copera marginipes)

 Very common insect found in reeds and marshy vegetation of forest streams and ponds from lowlands to mid-hills. 

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)

Rather local breeding resident than uncommon, found in forests and open areas with trees from lowlands to mid hills. It lives as pairs or small flocks. Its food consists mainly of flying insects.  It has been observed that this Bee-eater is diving into the water like kingfishers but whether it is to catch water insects/fish or it merely take a ‘plunge bath’ is uncertain. It dig a burrow into an earth bank with the end enlarged into a spherical chamber and lays 3-4 eggs during March to May. 

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>

ගිරිතිල්ල[Giri-tilla] (Argyreia kleiniana [Syn: Argyreia populifolia])

An indigenous and very common liana often growing over garden fences and along roads in the wet zone. Fruit a yellow berry are occasionally eaten by some people.  Flowering from March to June. 

පාදිලි මානාවා[Padili Manawa]/Wooly-necked Stork/Indian White-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus)

An uncommon breeding resident inhabiting tank edges, marshes, open grasslands, paddy fields etc. of low country dry zone. Usually seen as pairs though large aggregation of birds can be occurred when large water bodies are drying up. It feeds on fish, frogs, snails and insects such as large grasshoppers and some water insects. It breeds in February to March. The isolated nest (Unlike breeding colonies of some other storks and herons) is a large mass of sticks place high in a tree in the heart of the jungle. 

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>

තිත් මුවා[Thith Muwa]/Spotted deer(Axis axis)

Due to the lose of habitats and of extensive poaching, nowadays Spotted deer is confined to the protected national parks and forest reserves of the dry lowlands.  It lives as herds of few individuals to a hundred or more.  These herds mostly have single dominant male while some large herds may have several sexually matured stags. Only the males of spotted deer develop antlers and young stags shed antlers annually but later in life the shedding occurs irregularly.  They feed in grasslands in the morning and evening, resting during the heat of the day in the shade of trees.  Man, leopards and occasionally crocodiles and pythons are the enemies of the Spotted deer while jackal also kill fawns and injured animals. It feeds mainly by grazing on grasses though occasionally browse on low hanging branches and also very fond of the fruits and flowers  that falls from the trees.

වල් පොල්කිච්චා[Wal Polkichcha]/White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus)

White-rumped Shama  is a common breeding resident of jungles from lowlands to mid hills. It is fairly common in dry lowland forest areas and uncommon and locale in wet zone forests. Shama feeds on insects and probably jungle berries. It lives as pairs and  breeds from March to May . The nest is a pad of fibres placed in a tree hole where it lays 3 or 4 eggs.

හැළ කිඹුලා[Hala Kimbula]/Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris)

Mugger crocodile is a freshwater crocodile inhabiting tanks, rivers, villus, reservoirs and also sometime in saltpans of dry lowlands.  Mugger Juveniles feeds on insects and small vertebrates such as fish and frogs while adults hunt mammals as large as deer as well as small mammals, water birds, fish, turtles, snakes etc. It is said that when capturing fishes it remains with its jaws open until one swims by and then seize with a snap (Deraniyagala P.E.P. 1939). Occasionally it attacks humans. It aestivate in the jungle during the drought until rainy season comes. It is estimated that total population of Mugger in Sri Lanka is perhaps around 1200 individuals (Das Indraneil and de Silva Anslem 2005)

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>

Great Thick-knee/Great Stone Plover (Esacus recurvirostris)

Great Thick-knee is an uncommon breeding resident in the dry lowlands. It inhabits large tank edges, lagoons and estuaries. It is nocturnal and crepuscular in habit while resting in open areas during the day time. Usually it encounters as pairs or small flocks. It feeds on insects, crabs, worms and mollusks. Breeding season lasts from January to August  and  lays one or two eggs on ground generally not far from water.

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>

කුළු හරකා/වල් මීමා[Kulu Haraka/ Wal meema]/Wild buffalo(Bubalus arnee)

It is believed that wild buffalos now inhabiting in the dry zone forests and grasslands are decedents of feral domestic stock that have gone wild with the abandonment of Anuradhapura and Polonnaru kingdoms, since no wild buffaloes are to be found in the south of central provinces of Indian mainland. Above theory further says that it was originally imported from plains of Ganges by ancient Sinhalese for the agricultural purposes. Buffalo of true wild state nowadays found only in remote dry zone areas such as Yala and Wilpattu national parks, while in other areas it easily mix and mate with feral populations. Herds seen in grasslands are compose entirely of cows, their carves and young bulls while old and sexually matured bulls lives solitarily in its own demarcated territory defending it from other intruder bulls.

Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus)

A globally threatened rare breeding resident found in marshes, ponds, tanks and villus usually in or vicinity of dry lowland jungles. Lesser Adjutant is the largest bird of Sri Lanka though not tall as very rare Black-necked stork. It feeds on frogs, crabs, fish, lizards, small mammals and snakes stalking on dry edges of water usually as individual birds. But sometime small groups can be seen around drying water bodies. Unlike most other storks it flies by holding its neck drawn backward between the shoulders. Although it is confirmed as a breeding resident of Sri Lanka nest has rarely been found though juvenile birds are seen during and after its breeding season which happen to be March to April and again September. Nest is a huge file of sticks place on a big tree. 

කිරි ඉබ්බා/අළු ඉබ්බා/දිය කුකුලා[Kiri Ibba/Alu Ibba/Diya kukula]/Flapshell Turtle (Lissemys punctata)

Kiri Ibba is a common turtle from lowlands to mid hills up to about 1200m. It inhabits paddy fields, rivers, salt marshes, tanks, ponds and even canals in some urban areas. It feeds on frogs, fish, crabs, snails, worms, insects and water plants. Flapshell turtle also scavenges on dead animals. One of the major threats to it in Sri Lanka is killing large numbers for food.

Jerdon’s Bushlark/Rufus-winged Lark (Mirafra affinis)

Common breeding resident of the low country dry zone. Local and uncommon in wet lowlands. It lives in pairs and inhabits open country such as paddy fields, scrublands etc. Jerdon’s Bushlark has a remarkable courting behavior of parachuting down with wings open and legs dangling after rising about 20-30 ft in the air. It feeds on several ground insects like grasshoppers. Unlike the Oriental skylark, Jerdon's Bushlark often perches on bushes, fences, dead tree branches and such places and utters its song. Breeding season is from March to July and it builds a well concealed nest in a small hollow at the base of a tussock of grass and lays 2-3 eggs.

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>

Monkey-puzzle (Rathinda amor)

An uncommon butterfly found in most parts of the island up to about 1000m asl. However it is much plentiful at low country forested areas. The larva feeds on buds of  Ixora coccinea (රතඹලා/රත් මල්) flowers of family Rubiaceae and Immature leaves of බෝ-කෑර/ගෝ-කෑර [Bo-Kera] (Gomphia serrata). Ixora macrothyrsa, Ixora pavetta (මහ රතඹලා/Torch Tree) , Lepisanthes tetraphylla (දාඹු)

Mischodon zeylanicus, Dimorphocalyx glabellus (වැලිවැන්න), Dimocarpus longan, Scutia myrtina, Mangifera indica (අඹ/Mango), Antidesma ghaesembilla and Drypetes sepiaria are also identified as its larval food plants.

Lesser Sand Plover/Mongolian Plover/Heen Wali Oliviya (Charadrius mongolus)

Common winter migrant to the lowlands while more common in dry zone and locale in the wet zone. It feeds on small insects and crustaceans in shores, salterns, mud-flats, wet grasslands etc. as small to large flocks. Lesser Sand Plover breeds in Central Asia. 

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>

බැබිල[Bebila] (Hibiscus micranthus)

An indigenous herb common along roads, forest edges, rocky hillsides and open scrublands of the dry zone.

Little Orange Tip (Coltis etrida limbata)

Rather rare butterfly inhabits coastal areas of north of Chilaw and Tangalla to Hambantota of extreme south. However sometimes it occurs further inland in north. Those from southern areas are larger, darker and very richly colored. Its only known larval food plant in Sri Lanka is Maerua arenaria of the family Capparaceae. W. Ormiston noted of a specimen taken at cart road at Haldummulla, at least 50 miles from its usual haunts and he believed that it had pupated on a Hambantota salt cart and hatched out on the way to Haputhale. Similarly he doubted of specimens of etrida race might brought over from India on the native boats because in Mannar district specimens that are very close to typical etrida  may be taken in company with typical limbata.

බමුණු පියාකුස්සා/බ්‍රාහ්මණ උකුස්සා/Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

Common breeding resident mainly in coastal areas and large marshes and man-made tanks/reservoirs of the lowlands. Also an occasional visitor to the hills. Its food consist of any animal which it can capture such as lizards, young or wounded birds, fish, crabs, large insects etc. Its breeding season is from October to April and the nest made of sticks and twigs in the tree top where it lays 2-3 eggs. 





                                          Juvenile-->

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>

Single Branded Crow/Common Crow (Euploea core)

Very common butterfly found all over the island in all the year round. It takes part in migrations. Larva feeds on Adenium obesum (Desert Rose) ,Aganosma cymosa, Allamanda cathartica (වෙල් රුක් අත්තන/Golden trumpet/Yellow allamanda), Anodendron paniculatum,  Asclepias curassavica (කන් කුඹල/Wild Ipecacuanha/Mexican milkweed/Blood flower), Carissa spinarum (හීන් කරඹ), Cryptolepis dubia, Gomphocarpus physocarpus (Balloon Cottonbush), Hemidesmus indicus (ඉරමුසු/හීන්-ඉරමුසු), Ichnocarpus frutescens (ගැරඬි වැල්/ගෝපි/ප්‍රියවර්ණ), Leptadenia reticulata (ජීවන්ති), Mandevilla boliviensis, Nerium oleander (කනේරු/Oleander), Ochrosia oppositifolia, Parsonsia alboflavescens (කිරි අඟුණ/වල් අඟුණ), Pentalinon luteum (Wild allamanda/Hammock viper's tail/Sundial), Pentatropis capensis,  Ficus arnottiana (පතන බෝ/කවුඩු බෝ/කපුටු බෝ),  Ficus benghalensis (මහ නුග/නුග/Banyan/Krishna bo/Krishna's cup), Ficus benjamina (වලු නුග/Weeping Fig/Benjamin Fig), Ficus exasperata (බූ තෙදිය/සෙවන් මැදිය/Furniture Leaf), Ficus microcarpa, Ficus nervosa, Ficus pumila,  Ficus racemosa (අට්ටික්කා),  Ficus religiosa(බෝ) , Ficus tinctoria, Secamone emetica and Streblus asper, Egg laying also observed on Plumeria rubra (අරලිය/Frangipani/Temple tree)

  

Sri Lanka Swallow (Hirundo hyperythra)

Common resident bird recently split from Red-rumped swallow (Hirundo daurica) adding another endemic bird to Sri lankan list. It is common all over the island in open areas of forests, plantations, paddy fields and scrublands. Often encounters as pairs and sometime as small flocks. It flies usually close to the ground and food consists mainly of small insects captured on the wing. Sri Lanka Swallow built bottle like nest with mud on roof of a cave, under a bridge or sometime even under a  roof of a building or a house. Main breeding season is from April to July. 

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus)

A very common butterfly found all over the island in all the year round while commonest in the dry areas of the country. Its female occurs in two forms; one similar to the male and other with nearly all orange wings with dark margin and few discal spots only on the hind wings. Both forms of female are mimicked by the Danaid Eggfly. Larva feeds on Calotropis gigantea (එළවරා), Ceropegia elegans, Cynanchum alatum, Vincetoxicum cordifolium, Vincetoxicum iphisia, Vincetoxicum bracteatum, Asclepias curassavica (කන් කුඹල/Wild Ipecacuanha/Mexican milkweed/Blood flower), Gomphocarpus physocarpus (Balloon Cottonbush), Pentatropis capensis and Pergularia daemia (විස්සනි/මහමැදහන්ගු/Langali )

Star of Bethlehem, Madamfate (Hippobroma longiflora [Syn: Laurentia longiflora])

Native plant of West Indies. Introduced and naturalized in moist places such as roadside ditches, paddy fields, dilapidated walls and bases of coconut trees from wet lowland to midland hills. Also cultivated in home gardens.  Flowering throughout the year. 

Plumbeous silverline (Spindasis schistacea)

Rare butterfly of the low country open areas while plentiful in the hills. Its early stages and food plants are not yet recorded.

මුහුදු බිම් තඹර[Muhudu-bin-tambara]/Goat’s foot glory (Ipomoea pes-caprae)

An indigenous trailing vine, very common in the coastal beaches and sand dunes.  Flowering throughout the year. Both the roots and leaves are used as medicine in India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. Its common English name is due to two lobed leaves resembling the goat’s foot. 

Pale-faced Forest-Skimmer (Cratilla lineata calverti)

Pale-faced Forest-Skimmer was described by Fraser as a very common insect on the West Coast of India, but records here in Sri Lanka are only from Kandy (deFonseka T. 2000). However it is a rare forest dwelling dragonfly not only in Kandy but several other forested areas. It breeds in marshes in heavy jungles. (bedjanic, M et al 2007)

Striped Albatross ( Appias libythea libythea)

Rather rare butterfly of dry low lands but found in all elevations during migratory season from November to December. W. Ormiston stated that it is abundant in the Hambantota district in March and May and in the Mannar in July, November and January. (Ormiston W. 1924). Males often mud puddles on wet places to absorb minerals.  Its larva feeds on leaves of Cadaba fruticosa, Capparis grandis, Capparis roxburghii and Crateva adansonii (ලුණුවරණ) of the family Capparidaceae  and Cleome aspera of the family Cleomaceae