Sri Lanka Ramsar wetland
Wilpattu National Park
214 bird species recorded; the most from November to February.
Falgunsinhji · CC BY-SA 3.0
This month here
183 species in January.181 species in February.171 species in March.163 species in April.142 species in May.125 species in June.109 species in July.126 species in August.131 species in September.156 species in October.182 species in November.180 species in December.
The birds you are most likely to see in the month you choose, those that come for the season first. It opens on today's month.
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- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
214 species, counted.
Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).
- 214Speciesrecorded more than once
- 73Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 3ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 20,649Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 63 mAltitudeabove the sea
- 11Raptors
- 4Owls
- 26Waders
- 8Gulls & seabirds
- 4Ducks & geese
- 18Herons, ibises & grebes
- 4Storks & cranes
- 74Songbirds
- 65Other birds
From open records (eBird and others, through GBIF, licensed for any use). More birdwatchers mean more records: a quiet place may have more birds than it shows.
The checklist
All 214 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors11 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Crested Serpent EagleSpilornis cheela
- Brahminy KiteHaliastur indus
- Changeable Hawk-EagleNisaetus cirrhatus
- White-bellied Sea-EagleHaliaeetus leucogaster
- Grey-headed Fish EagleIcthyophaga ichthyaetusNT
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Crested Honey BuzzardPernis ptilorhynchus
- Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus
- Black EagleIctinaetus malayensis
- Booted eagleHieraaetus pennatus
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
Owls4 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Brown Fish OwlKetupa zeylonensis
- Brown Wood-owlStrix leptogrammica
- Brown BoobookNinox scutulata
- Indian Scops OwlOtus bakkamoena
Waders26 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Red-wattled LapwingVanellus indicus
- Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus
- Great Thick-kneeEsacus recurvirostrisNT
- Pacific Golden PloverPluvialis fulva
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilis
- Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNT
- Pin-tailed SnipeGallinago stenura
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- RedshankTringa totanus
- Pheasant-tailed JacanaHydrophasianus chirurgus
- Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinus
- Yellow-wattled LapwingVanellus malabaricus
- Little StintCalidris minuta
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
- Indian Thick-kneeBurhinus indicus
- Greater Sand PloverCharadrius leschenaultii
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
- Greater Painted-snipeRostratula benghalensis
- Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaNT
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
- Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataNT
- RuffCalidris pugnax
Gulls & seabirds8 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
- Gull-billed TernGelochelidon nilotica
- Little TernSternula albifrons
- White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterus
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
- Lesser Crested TernThalasseus bengalensis
- Brown-headed GullChroicocephalus brunnicephalus
- Common TernSterna hirundo
Ducks & geese4 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Lesser Whistling DuckDendrocygna javanica
- Cotton Pygmy GooseNettapus coromandelianus
- GarganeySpatula querquedula
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
Herons, ibises & grebes18 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Oriental DarterAnhinga melanogaster
- Little CormorantMicrocarbo niger
- Indian Pond-HeronArdeola grayii
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Black-necked IbisThreskiornis melanocephalus
- Purple heronArdea purpurea
- Egretta intermediaEgretta intermedia
- Indian CormorantPhalacrocorax fuscicollis
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- Grey PelicanPelecanus philippensisNT
- Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Striated HeronButorides striata
- Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax
- Western Reef HeronEgretta gularis
- Malay Night-heronGorsachius melanolophus
Storks & cranes4 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Painted StorkMycteria leucocephala
- Asian WoollyneckCiconia episcopusNT
- Lesser Adjutant StorkLeptoptilos javanicusNT
- Asian Open-bill StorkAnastomus oscitans
Songbirds74 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Red-vented BulbulPycnonotus cafer
- Oriental Magpie-robinCopsychus saularis
- Common MynaAcridotheres tristis
- Indian Paradise FlycatcherTerpsiphone paradisi
- Black-hooded OrioleOriolus xanthornus
- Indian RobinSaxicoloides fulicatus
- White-browed BulbulPycnonotus luteolus
- Paddyfield PipitAnthus rufulus
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Brown ShrikeLanius cristatus
- Common IoraAegithina tiphia
- Brown-capped babblerPellorneum fuscocapillus
- Large-billed CrowCorvus macrorhynchos
- Black-naped MonarchHypothymis azurea
- Yellow-billed BabblerTurdoides affinis
- Purple-rumped SunbirdLeptocoma zeylonica
- Common TailorbirdOrthotomus sutorius
- Sri Lanka WoodshrikeTephrodornis affinis
- Indian PittaPitta brachyura
- Tickell's Blue FlycatcherCyornis tickelliae
- Purple SunbirdCinnyris asiaticus
- Pale-billed FlowerpeckerDicaeum erythrorhynchos
- White-rumped MuniaLonchura striata
- Black DrongoDicrurus macrocercus
- White-bellied DrongoDicrurus caerulescens
- Phylloscopus nitidusPhylloscopus nitidus
- Loten's SunbirdCinnyris lotenius
- Spice FinchLonchura punctulata
- House CrowCorvus splendens
- Sri Lanka SwallowCecropis hyperythra
- Ashy Wood SwallowArtamus fuscus
- Forest WagtailDendronanthus indicus
- Plain PriniaPrinia inornata
- Muscicapa latirostrisMuscicapa latirostris
- Small MinivetPericrocotus cinnamomeus
- White-browed FantailRhipidura aureola
- Jerdon's LeafbirdChloropsis jerdoni
- Ashy PriniaPrinia socialis
- Black-capped BulbulPycnonotus melanicterus
- Large-billed Leaf-warblerPhylloscopus magnirostris
- Dark-fronted BabblerRhopocichla atriceps
- Oriental SkylarkAlauda gulgula
- Brown-breasted FlycatcherMuscicapa muttui
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Orange-headed ThrushGeokichla citrina
- Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis
- Black-headed Cuckoo-shrikeCoracina melanoptera
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- Black-headed MuniaLonchura malacca
- Jungle PriniaPrinia sylvatica
- Greater Racket-tailed DrongoDicrurus paradiseus
- Blyth’s Reed WarblerAcrocephalus dumetorum
- Indian White-eyeZosterops palpebrosus
- Velvet-fronted NuthatchSitta frontalis
- Golden-fronted LeafbirdChloropsis aurifrons
- Baya WeaverPloceus philippinus
- Tawny-bellied babblerDumetia hyperythra
- Orange MinivetPericrocotus flammeus
- Dicrurus leucophaeusDicrurus leucophaeus
- Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrikeHemipus picatus
- Grey-breasted PriniaPrinia hodgsonii
- Yellow-eyed BabblerChrysomma sinense
- Blue-throated Blue FlycatcherCyornis rubeculoides
- Richard's PipitAnthus richardi
- Indian Blue RobinLuscinia brunnea
- Streaked WeaverPloceus manyar
- Large CuckooshrikeCoracina macei
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Indian SilverbillEuodice malabarica
- Sri Lanka DrongoDicrurus lophorinus
- Ashy-crowned Sparrow-LarkEremopterix griseus
- Rosy StarlingPastor roseus
- Yellow-browed BulbulAcritillas indica
- Lanius schachLanius schach
Other birds65 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Indian PeafowlPavo cristatus
- Sri Lanka junglefowlGallus lafayettii
- Asian Green Bee-eaterMerops orientalis
- White-breasted KingfisherHalcyon smyrnensis
- Eastern Spotted DoveSpilopelia chinensis
- Malabar Pied HornbillAnthracoceros coronatusNT
- Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Common Emerald DoveChalcophaps indica
- Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameri
- Blue-tailed Bee-eaterMerops philippinus
- Brown-headed BarbetPsilopogon zeylanicus
- Green Imperial-PigeonDucula aeneaNT
- Ceylon Grey-HornbillOcyceros gingalensis
- Orange-breasted Green-pigeonTreron bicinctus
- Chestnut-headed Bee-eaterMerops leschenaulti
- Crested TreeswiftHemiprocne coronata
- Greater CoucalCentropus sinensis
- Pompadour Green PigeonTreron pompadora
- Rhopodytes viridirostrisRhopodytes viridirostris
- White-breasted WaterhenAmaurornis phoenicurus
- Coppersmith BarbetPsilopogon haemacephalus
- Asian Palm-swiftCypsiurus balasiensis
- Stork-billed KingfisherPelargopsis capensis
- Indian RollerCoracias benghalensisNT
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Square-tailed Drongo-CuckooSurniculus lugubris
- Common KoelEudynamys scolopaceus
- Indian CuckooCuculus micropterus
- Black-rumped FlamebackDinopium benghalense
- Grey-bellied CuckooCacomantis passerinus
- Lesser Crimson-backed FlamebackDinopium psarodes
- Sri Lanka BarbetPsilopogon rubricapillus
- Jerdon's NightjarCaprimulgus atripennis
- Western SwamphenPorphyrio porphyrio
- Black-capped KingfisherHalcyon pileataVU
- Indian SwiftletAerodramus unicolor
- Brown-capped Pygmy WoodpeckerYungipicus nanus
- Indian NightjarCaprimulgus asiaticus
- Little SwiftApus affinis
- Rufous WoodpeckerMicropternus brachyurus
- Barred ButtonquailTurnix suscitator
- Jacobin CuckooClamator jacobinus
- Black-backed Dwarf KingfisherCeyx erithacaNT
- Pied KingfisherCeryle rudis
- Alexandrine ParakeetPsittacula eupatria
- Crimson-backed FlamebackChrysocolaptes stricklandi
- White-naped WoodpeckerChrysocolaptes festivus
- Chestnut-winged CuckooClamator coromandus
- Eurasian HoopoeUpupa epops
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Ceylon Hanging-ParrotLoriculus beryllinus
- WatercockGallicrex cinerea
- Sri Lankan frogmouthBatrachostomus moniliger
- Cuculus variusCuculus varius
- Ceylon SpurfowlGalloperdix bicalcarata
- Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melba
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- Malabar TrogonHarpactes fasciatus
- Yellow-crowned WoodpeckerLeiopicus mahrattensis
- Banded Bay CuckooCacomantis sonneratii
- Lesser CuckooCuculus poliocephalus
- Ortygornis pondicerianusOrtygornis pondicerianus
- CootFulica atra
- Brown-backed NeedletailHirundapus giganteus
- Yellow-fronted BarbetPsilopogon flavifrons
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species from November to February.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan28°/22°57 mm
- Feb30°/22°44 mm
- Mar32°/24°58 mm
- Apr32°/26°112 mm
- May30°/27°87 mm
- Jun30°/26°23 mm
- Jul30°/26°22 mm
- Aug30°/26°41 mm
- Sep30°/26°68 mm
- Oct30°/25°208 mm
- Nov29°/24°248 mm
- Dec28°/23°183 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Wilpattu National Park.
National park in Sri Lanka
Wilpattu National Park is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in Sri Lanka.
214 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 20,649 open records.
The most recorded are the Indian Peafowl, the Sri Lanka junglefowl and the Asian Green Bee-eater.
10 species come for the summer, 61 for the winter and 2 only pass through.
3 are threatened worldwide, including Black-capped Kingfisher, Curlew Sandpiper and Grey Plover.
The most species are recorded from November to February.
Get there and watch
- Mailawewa Campsitecampsite · 3.7 km · 1 within 10 km
- Lunuwewa Circuit Bungalowplace to stay · 2.7 km · 6 within 10 km
- China Bay Airport (TRR)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 130 km in a straight lineCar hire at CMB airport (Colombo)Discover Cars · sponsored link↗
Plan the visit
A guided walk, a bed nearby, a car.
Some links above are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the data on this page says.
From above
The place and its surroundings.
The satellite image of the 6 × 6 km around the place, with the bird hides, towers and trails that OpenStreetMap shows.
Around, in OpenStreetMap
- 1campsites within 10 kmMailawewa Campsite
- 6places to stay within 10 kmLunuwewa Circuit Bungalow, Menikvila Circuit Bungalow, Manawila Circuit Bungalow and 3 more
- bird hides within 6 km
- observation towers within 6 km
- marked trails within 4 km
- visitor centres within 6 km
- viewpoints within 5 km
- car parks within 3 km
- restaurants and cafés within 3 km
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Wilpattu National Park.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Photographs
The place, as people saw it.
Other places nearby.
Wilpattu National Park
Sri Lanka
- 67Birdyas Score
- 214Species
- 73Migrants
- 3Threatened
Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary
India · 209 km
- 77Birdyas Score
- 234Species
- 122Migrants
- 5Threatened
Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary
India · 194 km
- 51Birdyas Score
- 104Species
- 59Migrants
- 0Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q3524793) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 20,649 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) |
| See these records | gbif.org |
| Species | GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons |
| Altitude | Copernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA |
| Temperature and rain | NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2) |
| What is around | © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL |
| Images | EOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons |
| Sister atlases | Islandyas |
Every figure is an average, an estimate or a count from a public dataset. Licences and methods: data sources.
The family
Do you prefer beaches, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, islands, rivers, canyons, caves, dark skies, viewpoints, birdwatching or forests?
Same idea, other landscapes: field atlases built on open data, in seven languages.
beaches
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Every lake on Earth: water temperature, ice, depth and the shore.Visit 
mountains
Every summit in 3D: summit weather, the 0 °C line, huts and trails.Visit 
waterfalls
Every waterfall: height, flow month by month and when it roars.Visit 
islands
Every island from the sea up: size, sea temperature, ferries and 3D.Visit 
rivers
Every river from source to sea: the journey, the flow and the basin in numbers.Visit 
canyons
Every canyon cut to scale: depth to the floor, rim and floor temperatures, trails and viewpoints.Visit 
caves
Every cave with its real depth and length: the rock above, the temperature inside all year, and how to visit.Visit 
dark skies
Where the night is still dark: the sky of every place, the Milky Way month by month, the Moon, eclipses and auroras.Visit 
viewpoints
Every viewpoint with its real 360° panorama: the peaks you can name, how far you see and where the sun sets.Coming soonVisit 
birdwatching
Every bird sanctuary and wetland with the species recorded month by month: who is resident, who comes for the summer, who only passes through.You are here
forests
Every forest with its land-cover rings, what grows and lives in it, and the best months to walk it.Coming soonVisit