Endemic Birds

Sri Lanka is home to 34 endemic bird species. The total number of bird species recorded on the island is 492, of which 219 are breeding residents. BirdLife International recognizes Sri Lanka as one of the world’s Endemic Bird Areas (EBAs).

The number of endemic species has changed several times over the years, largely due to close taxonomic revisions. Estimates have ranged from a minimum of 20 to a maximum of 47 species. Since 1977, the number stabilized at around 21 and increased to 23 in 1990 with the addition of two species, a figure accepted by many authorities.

In 1994, Wijesinghe published a checklist proposing three additional endemic species. However, this was not widely accepted due to a lack of rigorous taxonomic justification. Subsequent publications on the avifauna of Sri Lanka and South Asia have not included these species as endemics, although some local circles continue to regard them as acceptable.