The Sinharaja Reserve is rich in bird life with an impressive 147 species recorded to date. It is also the only locality where 18 out of 20 birds species endemic to Sri Lanka may be viewed. Many of these endemic birds have been indicated in Table 10 and Figure 11. Interestingly, few endemic and other species thought to be confined to the hill-zone have also been sighted at Sinharaja viz. the White-eye, the Scaly Thrush(Zoothera dauma), the Wood Pigeon (Columba torrigtoni), the Dusky Blue Flycatcher(Muscicapa sordida) and the Yellow-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus penicillatus). The wide variety of habitat-specific birds seen in Sinharaja is due to the continuous expanse of forest ranging from 300 to 1,500 meters, which provides the habitat of the forest is comparatively better studied than the other groups of animals. These studies include an inventory of the species; more detailed studies on population dynamics, feeding activity and other behavior patterns are currently in progress.

                        Among the birds recorded in the western sector of the Sinharaja, 13% were migrants. Of the resident species, 18% were confined to the heavily forested areas and 10% to village home-gardens and peripheral scrub areas. At least 36% of the species were common to the forest as well as to outside habitats. This is mainly due to the spread of secondary scrub areas into the forest particularly along logging roads. Data available indicates that most bird species are habitat sensitive and likely to be eliminated if forest areas are disturbed. 56% of the species are either rare or have low population densities. Of the 42% classified as common, a large proportion, 68% were confined to heavily forested undisturbed areas. Meanwhile, the International Council for Birds Preservation (ICBP) world list of threatened bird species for 1989, includes several species found at Sinharaja such as the Blue Magpie, the White-headed Starling, the Ashy-headed Babbler, the Green-billed Coucal, the Red-faced Malkoha, the Spotted-winged Thrush and the Wood Pigeon.

		Sri Lanka Blue Magpie-(Urocissa ornata)           This beautiful endemic bird is most appropriately called locally as "Kehibella"-meaning "beautiful damsel of the forest" according to same etymologists it is a social species living in small groups of 4 - 6 individuals outside the breeding season. During the breeding season the pairs move out but remain not far away from the rest of its social members. they feed mainly on insects, small lizards ect. Its distribution is confined to the forest away from human habitations.
		White-headed Starling (Sturnus senex)
		Red-faced Malkoha (Phaenicophaeous pyrrhocephalus)
		The Sri Lanka Spur Fowl (Galloperdix bicalcarata)
		Sri Lanka Jungle fowl (Gallus lafayettii)
		Chaucidium radiatum  (Glaucidium radiatum)
		Southern Scimitar Babbler (Pomatorhinus horsfieldii)
		Grey Hornbill (Tockus griseus)
		Tragon (Harpactes fasciatus)

 
Mixed species bird flocks are one of the most interesting experiences of the forest. This peculiar aggregation of birds, is thought to be a strategy for improving feeding efficiency and protection against predators. Observations made on at least 100 such flock at Sinharaja, revel that over 40 species of birds, including 12 endemic species, participate in flocks (Table 10). Bird flocks shows a distribution pattern that corresponds closely with the stratified vegetation structure. Different groups of species occupy the forest floor, undergrowth, mid canopy and high canopy (Figure 11). Flocks are also regularly accompanied by animals such as the Giant Squirrel, the Jungle Squirrel, the Purple-faced Leaf Monkey and the Mouse Deer.

                        Bird ringing has also been carried out regularly at Sinharaja since 1983, mainly to determine the home-range of bird species. So far 164 birds belonging to 32 species have been ringed. This method is also useful for the study of migrant species. In the Sinharaja, three important migrant species have been captured, the Layard's Flycatcher, the Indian Blue Chat and the Broen Shrike. These were recaptured in the same location during successive year, indicating site specificity of species during migration.                

Table 10. Status of participant species in the mixed-species foraging bird flocks.

Figure 11. Distribution of birds within the forest canopy.