32) ~ Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush~

More about 32) ~ Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush~

**Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush - Myophonus blighi

Short: A shy, deep-forest songbird known for its hauntingly beautiful whistle, the Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush is one of the island’s rarest and most secretive endemic birds. Its existence is increasingly fragile due to shrinking montane rainforests and human encroachment.

Facts:

Scientific Name: Myophonus blighi

Common Name: Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush (also called the Arrenga)

Habitat: Montane wet-zone forests and shaded streams in the Central Highlands (notably Horton Plains, Peak Wilderness, and Knuckles Range).

Diet: Insects, small snails, and worms.

Lifespan: Around 7-10 years.

Size: About 20-22 cm long.

Threats: Deforestation, habitat fragmentation, tourism pressure, and reduced water quality in streams.

Conservation Status: Endangered (IUCN).


Details:
The Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush is a jewel hidden in the shadows of Sri Lanka’s highland forests - a small, secretive bird with a voice that can stop a hiker in their tracks. Its melancholic, flute-like whistle echoes through misty ravines and forested waterfalls, earning it both admiration and mystery among birdwatchers.

This elusive species is mostly found near fast-flowing mountain streams, where it hops along mossy rocks in search of insects and aquatic invertebrates. Males are a deep, shimmering indigo-blue, with a blackish head and throat, while females are a more subdued brown with subtle blue highlights - a perfect example of camouflage evolution in montane forests.

Endemic to Sri Lanka, the Whistling Thrush inhabits only the montane wet-zone forests of the island’s central highlands, between 1,200 and 2,200 meters above sea level. Sadly, much of its habitat has been lost to tea cultivation, deforestation, and human settlements, leaving only isolated forest patches where the species struggles to survive.

The bird’s elusive nature and preference for dense forest cover make sightings extremely rare - even skilled ornithologists often only hear its echoing whistle at dawn or dusk. Once relatively widespread, it is now confined to a few protected areas, where ongoing habitat restoration and water conservation efforts aim to give it a chance.

The Whistling Thrush is more than a bird; it is the melancholy soul of Sri Lanka’s mountain forests, a living echo of the island’s natural harmony. Its loss would not only silence a rare song but also signal the fading heartbeat of the mist-cloaked highlands themselves.

2025 November 09