Flycatchers

Little Green Bee-eater.

Sri Lanka Paradise Flycatcher.

White Asian Paradise Flycatcher.

Click on any of the smaller photographs below, to enlarge the image and see the caption.

Sri Lanka Dusky Blue Flycatcher (Eumyias sordidus) - This picture captures the bright blue forehead. The Dusky Blue Flycatcher likes wooded gardens, woodlands and forests of the 'Up' country hills. (1,2)

White Asian Paradise Flycatcher male - (Terpsiphone paradisi paradisi). This white male is a winter visitor in lowland woodland and up to 1700 m. (1,2)

Sri Lanka Paradise Flycatcher male (Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonsis) - Only the male has the long streamers. Females and juveniles have the same colouring, but lack the streamers. (1,2)

Sri Lanka Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonsis) - A male on a branch in Sinharaja Tropical Rainforest flicks his tail streamers. (1,2)

White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens) - This Drongo is in the garden of a house in Colombo 7. (1,2)

Little Green Bee-eater - (Merops orientalis ceylonicus) The smallest Bee-eater in Sri Lanka. Perches on low branches ready to fly out quickly for insects. (1,2

Little Green Bee-eater surveys its patch. (1,2)

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti) - This one is getting ready for its evening dust bath. Lives in forests and open woodland. (1,2)

A pair of Blue-tailed Bee-eaters (Merops philippinus) - This is at Wasgamuwa National Park after a forest fire. (1,2)

Tickell's Blue Flycatcher (Niltava tickelliae jerdoni) - This small blue and orange bird lives in gardens with trees, woodlands and forests in the lowlands and hills. (1,2)

Tickell's Blue Flycatcher (Niltava tickelliae jerdoni) - The same male bird from the rear, showing the blue mantle and tail feathers. (1,2)

Male Flame Minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus) - Late afternoon on the tea estate at 98 Acres, Ella, Central Province. Lives in woodlands throughout the island, more often seen in the 'Up'-country hills. (1,2)

Male Flame Minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus) - Mainly feeding by moving from tree to tree looking for insects. (1,2)

Female Flame Minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus) - Feeding on a caterpillar on a tree at 98 Acres tea estate, near Ella and Little Adams Peak. (1,2)

Sri Lanka Dusky Blue Flycatcher (Eumyias sordidus) - This endemic bird is found only above 600 m. The dull blue colour of the body is crowned by a bright blue forehead. Mainly eats insects and occasional berries. (1,2)

Sri Lanka Dusky Blue Flycatcher (Eumyias sordidus). (1,2)

Hill Swallow (Hirundo domicola) - This small swallow often feeds only a metre above the ground and when walking on tea estate tracks you can see them ahead of and behind you. (1,2)

Hill Swallows (Hirundo domicola) - Resting on the power cables of a tea plantation near Ambewela in the Badulla District of Uva Province. These swallows are not scared to live near humans and are residents of gardens and plantations. (1,2)

Little Swift (Apus affinis) - Building Nest by gluing feathers to the ceiling of the Old House, 'Walawa', at Ulagalla in Thirappane., These small Swifts are lovely to watch as they fly in graceful swoops around the garden catching insects. Their range is from Africa across South Asia to The Philippines.

Sri Lanka Paradise Flycatcher male (Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonsis) - Only the male has the long streamers. Females and juveniles have the same colouring, but lack the streamers. (1,2)

Hill Swallow (Hirundo domicola) - Resting on the power cables electrical pole of a tea plantation near Ambewela in the Badulla District of Uva Province. These swallows are not scared to live near humans and are residents of gardens and plantations. (1,2)

Sri Lanka Paradise Flycatcher - A male with long streamers. (1,2)

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) on a small perch in Bundala National Park, Southern Province, Sri Lanka,No1 17 Oct2017

Blue-tailed Bee-eater in its prime - Winter visitor from August to May, but spreads over the island. Perches in trees. (1,2)

Pair of Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters perching in a tree. (1,2)

The photographs below are on a slider. Use the thumbnail images or arrows ↔ to move right or left.

Sri Lanka Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonsis)

White Asian Paradise Flycatcher male

Sri Lanka Paradise Flycatcher male (Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonsis)

White Paradise Flycatcher male in profile. (1,2)

Sri Lanka Paradise Flycatcher

White Paradise Flycatcher

White Paradise Flycatcher caught in the sunlight.

White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens)

Little Green Bee-eater

Little Green Bee-eater surveys its patch. (1,2)

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti)

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater in profile. (1,2)

A pair of Blue-tailed Bee-eaters (Merops philippinus)

Blue-tailed Bee-eater in profile

Blue-tailed Bee-eater

Tickell's Blue Flycatcher (Niltava tickelliae jerdoni)

Tickell's Blue Flycatcher (Niltava tickelliae jerdoni)

Male Flame Minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus)

Male Flame Minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus)

Female Flame Minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus)

Female Flame Minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus)

Sri Lanka Dusky Blue Flycatcher (Eumyias sordidus)

Sri Lanka Dusky Blue Flycatcher (Eumyias sordidus). (1,2)

Sri Lanka Dusky Blue Flycatcher (Eumyias sordidus)

Hill Swallow (Hirundo domicola)

Hill Swallows (Hirundo domicola)

Little Swift (Apus affinis)

Sri Lanka. So much more than you can see in a lifetime.

Bird References
1. Harrison J. A Field Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka, 2nd edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2011.
2. Henry G.M. A Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka, 3rd edn. Colombo: Oxford University Press; 1998.