Sri Lanka is a tropical island situated close to the southern tip of India. The
bird life of Sri Lanka is very rich for its size, and about 433 species have
been recorded. In addition to the many resident birds, a considerable number
of migratory species winter in the country to escape their northern breeding
grounds.
233 species are resident, of which the most important are the 26 endemics,
with 7 more proposed.[1]The other resident species are also found in the
adjacent Indian mainland, but over 80 have developed distinct Sri Lankan
races. Some of these races are very different in their plumage characteristics
from the related forms in India.
Bird distribution in Sri Lanka is largely determined by its climatic zones. The
dry zone is largest of the three, covering more than half of the area of the
island, with a prolonged dry and hot period and only one monsoon (the
northeast monsoon from October to January).
The wet zone, with two monsoons, is in the southwestern quarter of the
island, where the few remaining rain forests are found and humidity is high.
The central hill zone rises to over 2450 m (8-10,000 ft) and has a cool
temperate climate. Most of the 26 endemic species are confined to the wet
and the hill zones, with only a few extending into the dry zone as well.
Recent updates and sighting information can be obtained through the Field
Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka web site.
Source : Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
