Sinharaja Forest Reserve

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

🦜 Sri Lanka's Best Ceylon Hanging-Parrot Haven
🌍 #118 Global · 4.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #17 in Asia #53 in Tropical Forest
Indian Subcontinent, Sri Lanka 712 spp. recorded

Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a dense tropical rainforest located in the southwestern wet zone of Sri Lanka. Towering dipterocarp trees, tangled vines, and damp leaf litter create a humid, multi-layered jungle canopy where muddy footpaths wind through thick vegetation. This ancient wilderness differs from dry-zone parks through its sheer density of endemic plant life and perpetual moisture, making it a crucial sanctuary for moisture-loving reptiles and amphibians.

6.442° N   80.364° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Ceylon Pit Viper ★

Ceylon Pit Viper

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Craspedocephalus trigonocephalus

80–90% · Very likely
Wiegmann's Agama ★
LC

Wiegmann's Agama

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Otocryptis wiegmanni

80–90% · Very likely
Common Hourglass Tree Frog ★
LC

Common Hourglass Tree Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Polypedates cruciger

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Common Green Forest Lizard
LC

Common Green Forest Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Calotes calotes

80–90% · Very likely
Square-tailed Bulbul
LC Endemic

Square-tailed Bulbul

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Hypsipetes ganeesa

70–80% · Very likely
Ceylon Hanging-Parrot
LC

Ceylon Hanging-Parrot

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Loriculus beryllinus

70–80% · Very likely
Yellow-fronted Barbet
LC

Yellow-fronted Barbet

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Psilopogon flavifrons

70–80% · Very likely
Green Vine Snake
LC Endemic

Green Vine Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Ahaetulla nasuta

70–80% · Likely
Hump Snout Lizard

Hump Snout Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lyriocephalus scutatus

60–70% · Likely
Orange-billed Babbler

Orange-billed Babbler

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Turdoides rufescens

60–70% · Likely
Pearl-necked Dove
LC Endemic

Pearl-necked Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spilopelia chinensis

60–70% · Likely
Sri Lanka Drongo
LC

Sri Lanka Drongo

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Dicrurus lophorinus

60–70% · Likely
White-bellied Drongo
LC Endemic

White-bellied Drongo

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Dicrurus caerulescens

60–70% · Likely
Orange Minivet
LC

Orange Minivet

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Pericrocotus flammeus

60–70% · Likely
Asian Emerald Dove
LC Endemic

Asian Emerald Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chalcophaps indica

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Purple-faced Lutung
EN

Purple-faced Lutung

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Semnopithecus vetulus

50–60% · Likely
Indian Palm Squirrel
LC

Indian Palm Squirrel

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Funambulus palmarum

40–50% · Likely
Layard's Palm Squirrel
VU

Layard's Palm Squirrel

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Funambulus layardi

40–50% · Possible
Toque Macaque
EN

Toque Macaque

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Macaca sinica

30–40% · Possible
Sri Lankan Giant Squirrel
NT

Sri Lankan Giant Squirrel

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ratufa macroura

30–40% · Possible
Ruddy Mongoose

Ruddy Mongoose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Herpestes smithii

20–30% · Possible
Nilgiri Palm Squirrel
VU Endemic

Nilgiri Palm Squirrel

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Funambulus sublineatus

10–20% · With luck
Red Slender Loris
EN

Red Slender Loris

Mammal

Loris tardigradus

Insufficient data
Schneider's roundleaf bat
LC

Schneider's roundleaf bat

Mammal

Hipposideros speoris

Insufficient data
Stripe-necked Mongoose

Stripe-necked Mongoose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Herpestes vitticollis

Insufficient data
Indian Gray Mongoose

Indian Gray Mongoose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Herpestes edwardsi

Insufficient data
Lesser false vampire bat
LC

Lesser false vampire bat

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Megaderma spasma

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Square-tailed Bulbul
LC Endemic

Square-tailed Bulbul

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Hypsipetes ganeesa

70–80% · Very likely
Ceylon Hanging-Parrot
LC

Ceylon Hanging-Parrot

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Loriculus beryllinus

70–80% · Very likely
Yellow-fronted Barbet
LC

Yellow-fronted Barbet

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Psilopogon flavifrons

70–80% · Very likely
Orange-billed Babbler

Orange-billed Babbler

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Turdoides rufescens

60–70% · Likely
Pearl-necked Dove
LC Endemic

Pearl-necked Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spilopelia chinensis

60–70% · Likely
Sri Lanka Drongo
LC

Sri Lanka Drongo

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Dicrurus lophorinus

60–70% · Likely
White-bellied Drongo
LC Endemic

White-bellied Drongo

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Dicrurus caerulescens

60–70% · Likely
Orange Minivet
LC

Orange Minivet

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Pericrocotus flammeus

60–70% · Likely
Asian Emerald Dove
LC Endemic

Asian Emerald Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chalcophaps indica

60–70% · Likely
Black-capped Bulbul

Black-capped Bulbul

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Pycnonotus melanicterus

50–60% · Likely
Ceylon Magpie
VU

Ceylon Magpie

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Urocissa ornata

50–60% · Likely
Pale-billed Flowerpecker
LC Endemic

Pale-billed Flowerpecker

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Dicaeum erythrorhynchos

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Ceylon Pit Viper ★

Ceylon Pit Viper

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Craspedocephalus trigonocephalus

80–90% · Very likely
Wiegmann's Agama ★
LC

Wiegmann's Agama

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Otocryptis wiegmanni

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Common Green Forest Lizard
LC

Common Green Forest Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Calotes calotes

80–90% · Very likely
Green Vine Snake
LC Endemic

Green Vine Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Ahaetulla nasuta

70–80% · Likely
Hump Snout Lizard

Hump Snout Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lyriocephalus scutatus

60–70% · Likely
Boulenger's Keelback

Boulenger's Keelback

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Fowlea asperrimus

40–50% · Likely
Lowland Hump-nosed Viper
NT

Lowland Hump-nosed Viper

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Hypnale zara

40–50% · Likely
Common Water Monitor
LC Endemic

Common Water Monitor

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Varanus salvator

40–50% · Likely
Stripe-Tailed Bronzeback
VU

Stripe-Tailed Bronzeback

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Dendrelaphis caudolineolatus

40–50% · Likely
Ceylon Wolf Snake
EN

Ceylon Wolf Snake

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Lycodon carinatus

30–40% · Possible
Greer's Mabuya

Greer's Mabuya

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Eutropis greeri

30–40% · Possible
Sri Lanka Agama
LC

Sri Lanka Agama

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Calotes liolepis

30–40% · Possible
Oriental Garden Lizard
LC

Oriental Garden Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Calotes versicolor

20–30% · Possible
Schokar's bronzeback
VU

Schokar's bronzeback

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Dendrelaphis schokari

20–30% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Common Hourglass Tree Frog ★
LC

Common Hourglass Tree Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Polypedates cruciger

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Common Indian Toad
LC

Common Indian Toad

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Duttaphrynus melanostictus

40–50% · Likely
Günther's Golden-backed Frog

Günther's Golden-backed Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Indosylvirana temporalis

30–40% · Possible
Sharp-snouted Shrub Frog
EN

Sharp-snouted Shrub Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pseudophilautus cuspis

20–30% · Possible
Sharp-snout Saddled Tree Frog
EN

Sharp-snout Saddled Tree Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Taruga longinasus

20–30% · Possible
🐸 No photo available
VU

Common Shrub Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pseudophilautus popularis

20–30% · Possible
Indian Five-Fingered Frog

Indian Five-Fingered Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Euphlyctis hexadactylus

20–30% · Possible
Common skittering frog
LC

Common skittering frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis

20–30% · Possible
🐸 No photo available
VU

Schneider's shrub frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Pseudophilautus schneideri

20–30% · Possible
Corrugated water frog
NT

Corrugated water frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Lankanectes corrugatus

20–30% · Possible
Sri Lanka rock frog
VU

Sri Lanka rock frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Nannophrys ceylonensis

20–30% · Possible
Hollow-snouted Shrub Frog
VU

Hollow-snouted Shrub Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Pseudophilautus cavirostris

20–30% · Possible
Grubby Shrub Frog
VU

Grubby Shrub Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pseudophilautus sordidus

20–30% · With luck

Animal Events

🦎

Ceylon Pit Viper breeding season

JanFebMarAprJulNov

Increased activity of this endemic viper, often spotted basking on foliage or hunting in the understory.

Ceylon Pit Viper

Ceylon Pit Viper

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Craspedocephalus trigonocephalus

80–90% · Very likely
🐸

Monsoon amphibian chorus

AugSepOct

Heavy rains trigger explosive breeding of tree frogs and shrub frogs, filling the forest with calls at night.

Common Hourglass Tree Frog
LC

Common Hourglass Tree Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Polypedates cruciger

30–40% · Possible
Sharp-snouted Shrub Frog
EN

Sharp-snouted Shrub Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pseudophilautus cuspis

20–30% · Possible
🦎

Endemic reptile foraging trails

JanFebMarAprAugSep

High density of endemic reptiles like agamas and skinks foraging along forest paths and stream edges.

Wiegmann's Agama
LC

Wiegmann's Agama

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Otocryptis wiegmanni

80–90% · Very likely
Greer's Mabuya

Greer's Mabuya

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Eutropis greeri

30–40% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Ceylon Pit Viper
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
Wiegmann's Agama
80–90
90–100
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
90–100
80–90
80–90
80–90
Common Hourglass Tree Frog
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
20–30
30–40
20–30
50–60
30–40
5–10
30–40
30–40
Common Green Forest Lizard
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
60–70
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
Square-tailed Bulbul
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
50–60
60–70
40–50
80–90
80–90
Ceylon Hanging-Parrot
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
Yellow-fronted Barbet
60–70
60–70
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
Green Vine Snake
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
80–90
50–60
60–70
60–70
Hump Snout Lizard
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
80–90
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
Orange-billed Babbler
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
Pearl-necked Dove
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
30–40
60–70
70–80
70–80
Sri Lanka Drongo
50–60
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
White-bellied Drongo
50–60
40–50
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
50–60
50–60
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
Orange Minivet
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
Asian Emerald Dove
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
Animal Events
🦎 Ceylon Pit Viper breeding season
🐸 Monsoon amphibian chorus
🦎 Endemic reptile foraging trails

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent
🦜 Sri Lanka's Best Ceylon Hanging-Parrot Haven

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
408
🐒 Mammals
101
🦎 Reptiles
125
🐸 Amphibians
78
712 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
118 Threatened 3 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
73%
📊
Coverage (196 species at ≥5% of 712 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
28%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (7 bird, 5 reptile)
46% Global avg
65%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
102
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
11
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
37

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Sinharaja Forest Reserve?

The most likely sightings are Wiegmann's Agama (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Common Green Forest Lizard (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Ceylon Pit Viper (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Square-tailed Bulbul (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Ceylon Hanging-Parrot (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers) — among 712 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Sinharaja Forest Reserve for wildlife?

April has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Ceylon Pit Viper in Sinharaja Forest Reserve?

Yes — about 82% of wildlife watchers report a Ceylon Pit Viper sighting in Sinharaja Forest Reserve, based on 229 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Wiegmann's Agama in Sinharaja Forest Reserve?

Yes — about 87% of wildlife watchers report a Wiegmann's Agama sighting in Sinharaja Forest Reserve, based on 284 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Common Hourglass Tree Frog in Sinharaja Forest Reserve?

Yes — about 38% of wildlife watchers report a Common Hourglass Tree Frog sighting in Sinharaja Forest Reserve, based on 36 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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