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White-throated Silverbill / White-throated Munia (සරල වීකුරුල්ලා)
Euodice malabarica

In some books, this bird is identified as Indian Silverbill. Based on the elongated central feathers and the bill, I believe these are White-throated Silverbill's.

Seen and photographed in Jaffna on the outer most road in the Jaffna peninsula on my way to Kankesanturei.

Doubtful identification
White-throated Silverbill
White-rumped Munia
(නිත්ඹ සුදු වීකුරුල්ලා)
Lonchura striata

This cute energy bundle was seen first at Wet Water Resort  (Image 1). I came across the next curious case of this bird near the 'Bodinagala' forest reserve where I assume he was collecting dry leafs' for a nest. He was flying back and forth collecting leafs. (Image 2 and 3)

 

Images 4 and 5 are of a pair who were trying to build a nest unsuccessfully in a rain gutter. All the other images are from my home garden at Nawala where a few of them are always around building nests in different places.

White-rumped Munia
Scaly-breasted Munia / Spotted Munia
(ළය කයරු වීකුරුල්ලා)
Lonchura punctulata

These tiny Munia’s are quite common among the long grass where they eat the seeds quite eagerly. Seen at Habarana and then at Rathnapura. 4th image is of a juvenile who is yet to get his scales on the breast.

Image 5 and 6 from the outskirts of Kegalle where they happily feast on the rice.

Image 7 to 10 are special. Captured around Thalangama lake when 3 of them were eating grass without any care of my jeep.

Scaly-breasted Munia
Black-throated Munia / Ceylon Hill Munia
(ගෙල කලු වීකුරුල්ලා)
Lonchura kelaarti

Yet to capture image

Black-throated Munia
Black-headed Munia
(හිස කලු වීකුරුල්ලා)
Lonchura malacca

These beautiful birds were playing around in the morning sun at 'Bundala' National Park. Such beautiful colours on a playful bird.

Black-headed Munia
House Sparrow
(ගේකුරුල්ලා)
Passer domesticus

I have a long history with the House Sparrow as they are a common sight in most homes of Sri Lanka. These brave birds are highly adapted to life around humans and are at home when it comes to building nests within a house.

 

I took these beautiful pictures of them in Nuwara Eliya. 1st one is of a male. 2nd I believe is of a juvenile basking in the morning sun. Image 5 was taken at Yala inside Jetwing Yala hotel. Images 7 and 8 are of a Male in breeding plumage taken at Yala.

House Sparrow
Chestnut-shouldered Petronia / Yellow-throated Sparrow (පින්ගු-උරිස් කුරුලිත්තා)
Gymnoris xanthocollis

Yet to capture image

Vagrant species
Chestnut-shouldered Petronia
Streaked Weaver / Striated Weaver
(පන් වඩුකුරුල්ලා)
Ploceus manyar

Yet to capture image

Streaked Weaver
Baya Weaver
(රුක් වඩුකුරුල්ලා)
Ploceus philippinus

The great architects of the bird world. I saw them first in 'Sigiriya'. It was a breeding male.

 

The next set of pictures are from 'Debarawewa' where a colony of birds were building their nests next to the water tank. These were females who have to build a set of exquisite nests. Images 6 and 7 are from Chundikulam National Park.

Image 8 to 10 from the Valachena area where they have built nests on a palm tree. Some of the birds were stealing building material from other nests when the owner is not there.

Baya Weaver
Common Rosefinch
Common Rosefinch
(පොදු රෝස පින්චා)
Erythrina erythrina

Yet to capture image

Vagrant species
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