Wild Ground Feeding

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

Great Thick-knee (Esacus recurvirostris) - This wary bird is mostly nocturnal and rests during the day. Can swim and runs quickly. Lives near the coast and larger tanks of the dry zone. Eats insects, worms, crabs, molluscs and other small animals. Used to be known as the Great Stone-Plover. (1,2)

Brahminy Starling (Sturnus pagodarum) - Winter visitor from Afghanistan and India. Stays on open scrubland in the dry zone lowlands, preferably near coasts. Feeds on invertebrates, fruit and nectar. (1,2)

Eurasian Thick-knee (Burhinus oedicnemus) - This wary bird has an intense stare and large eyes with good night-vision. Rests during the day and feeds at twilight and during the night. Like the Great Thick-knee, it lives mainly on the coast and in the scrub land of the dry zone. Feeds on ground insects and other small animals. Lays camouflage-coloured eggs in a shallow hole on the ground. If you look slightly to the left of the upper white stripe on the wing, you can see an out of focus egg, plus possibly two others, in the background. (1,2)

Eurasian Thick-knee (Burhinus oedicnemus) - This is the same bird as in the previous slide, and it appears to be walking away, whilst pretending to have a broken wing. It is keeping an eye on me as it does so. This strongly suggests there was a nest nearby.

Sri Lanka Scimitar-babbler (Pomatorhinus melanurus) - Endemic species. Common in forests, scrub and woodland. This one was in The Sinharaja National Park, at the eastern end in the hills above Deniyaya.

Sri Lanka Scimitar-babbler (Pomatorhinus melanurus) - Another view of this endemic bird showing the curved yellow bill that gives its english name. Turns over leaves on ground to look for food or on mossy bark of trees. (1,2)

Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis ceylonensis) - Endemic race. Common in cultivation, gardens and on the dirt trails of the National Parks in the dry zone. (1,2)

Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus) - Commonly found on grassland and scrubland. Stands tall and runs when looking for insects. This picture is obviously taken during a drought.

Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus) - This picture was taken during the good times, when there was plenty of rain.

Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus) - If alarmed the Paddyfield Pipit flies up with a loud twit, twit-tit call. (1,2)

Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) - The distinctive red wattles and beak, the black, white and brown coloured feathers, combined with the long, yellow legs can only be one bird. Although it has long legs and lives near water, it catches invertebrates mainly on land with its short beak. (1,2)

Great Thick-knee (Esacus recurvirostris) - This species is much larger than the Eurasian Thick-knee and has a distinctive upturned bill. Its head is large, with brown and white stripes and a yellow eye. (1,2)

Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) - On a rock above a fast-flowing mountain stream.

Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) - Common winter visitor to rivers and streams across the island. Eats insects from rocks or on the wing. Wags tail and flicks wings almost continually. (1,2)

Spot-winged Thrush (Zoothera spiloptera) - Endemic species. Lives in forests of wet lowlands and hills, where it feeds on the ground by turning over leaves to find small animals. It also eats berries. Can also be found in dry zone areas near to wet zone forests. (1,2)

Spot-winged Thrush (Zoothera spiloptera) - Can quickly blend into the undergrowth.

Forest Wagtail (Dendronanthus indicus) - A winter visitor which spends a lot of time on the forest floor foraging for insects. It also feeds in trees where it seeks refuge when disturbed. (1)

Forest Wagtail (Dendronanthus indicus) - A winter visitor which spends a lot of time on the forest floor foraging for insects. It also feeds in trees where it seeks refuge when disturbed. (1)

Forest Wagtail (Dendronanthus indicus) - A winter visitor which spends a lot of time on the forest floor foraging for insects. It also feeds in trees where it seeks refuge when disturbed. (1)

White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus leggei) - Feeds in undergrowth by looking for insects, worms and other small invertebrates underneath leaves. Also eats berries. Common in dry zone, but can be seen in wet zone forests. (1,2)

White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus leggei) - Always on the alert for food and predators.

White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus leggei) showing its white rump.

White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus leggei) - Always on the alert for food and predators.

White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus leggei) showing its white rump.

White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus leggei) - Nice angle to see the black and orange body and the white tail under-feathers with a pale blue stripe.

White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus leggei) - Endemic race. This relative of the "Robins" is famous for its beautiful songs - Locals say it has seven different songs. These are usually heard at dusk and dawn.

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Great Thick-knee (Esacus recurvirostris)

Great Thick-knee (Esacus recurvirostris)

Eurasian Thick-knee (Burhinus oedicnemus)

Eurasian Thick-knee (Burhinus oedicnemus)

Brahminy Starling (Sturnus pagodarum)

Sri Lanka Scimitar-babbler (Pomatorhinus melanurus)

Sri Lanka Scimitar-babbler (Pomatorhinus melanurus)

Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis ceylonensis)

Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus)

Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus)

Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus)

Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)

Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

Forest Wagtail (Dendronanthus indicus)

Spot-winged Thrush (Zoothera spiloptera)

Spot-winged Thrush (Zoothera spiloptera)

White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus leggei)

White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus leggei)

White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus leggei)

White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus leggei)

White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus leggei)

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.