Birdwatching in Colombo

The island’s bustling metropolis may not seem like a place for birdwatching in Sri Lanka, but there are some tranquil spots in the suburbs of Colombo where wildlife flourishes and many species of endemic and migratory birds can be seen. There are two main sites for birdwatching in Colombo – Talangama Wetlands, positioned to the east of the city centre, and the Attidiya Bird Sanctuary, which lies in convenient proximity to the Bellanwila Rajamaha Vihara (Colombo’s most iconic Buddhist temple and one of the city’s main tourist attractions).

Talangama Wetlands is a complex of ponds, canals and paddy fields, an urban haven which boasts a remarkable diversity of wildlife including over 100 species of bird including water birds such as Purple Swaphen, Little Grebe, Median and Large Egrets and several different types of heron, and Black-Headed Ibis and Painted Stork in the migrant season. You will also see Purple-Faced Leaf Monkeys clambering through the vegetation and butterflies and dragonflies hovering above the water. Attidiya Bird Sanctuary has a wonderful walking trail along marshlands and the Bolgoda canal, interrupted halfway by a viewing tower where nature lovers can easily spend part of the day. 166 species of birds have been sighted here, including rarities such as the Spot Billed Pelican, Glossy Ibis and White Ibis.