Sri Lankan Animals

  This is the largest butterfly species in Sri Lanka and is endemic. It can be easily identified by its size and the yellow and black colours seen when flying. Adults are fairly common, flying high close to the tree tops at the edges of streams, rivers bordering forested areas and even in gardens or at the edges of the forest patches adjoining rural homes. They are strong fliers and active early in the morning up to midday and sometimes up to early afternoon. They exhibit a certain extent of territorial behaviour, in that they can be seen flying back and forth within the same stretch of stream edge/ garden or forested area. Their larval host plants are from the Family Aristolochia. In Sri Lanka most often recorded is Aristolochia indica, a small climbing plant that either occurs in the wild or is grown in rural gardens as it has medicinal properties.

  These are shy but noisy birds, which usually move around in pairs or small groups. Members of the flock keep in contact by calls and lost birds are easily identified by the loud penetrating calls they make. Blue Magpie are omnivorous, feeding on insects, beetles and lizards and rather less on fruits. However, ripe fruit of keiya (Freycinetia pycnophylia) are a favourite. They spend most of their time among foliage probing for morsels under tree bark and descend to the ground only in search of prey. They are active during the rainy season, especially when the rains are intermittent or soon after a shower of rain. They are incidental followers of mixed species feeding flocks in Sinharaja. Blue Magpies breed from January to end of April. The Cluth varies from 3 to 5, with 4 being the most common. The preferred habitat of nest building is in close proximity to streams and rivers of undisturbed area. Nest construction is accomplished by the pair, assisted by other members of the flock...

  This bird’s distribution around the country is mainly above 3,000 ft., but has been recorded in Sinharaja at lower elevations of 900 ft. It is seen in both forested g and cleared areas such as plantations, provided adequate tall trees are present. Moves about in flocks, which can often number up to 1O -15 birds, calling to each other in a soft chirp. Prefers the top canopy and search flowers and tender shoots for insects. The nest is a small cup suspended from a fork, generally 8 — 12 ft. above the ground, but in the plantation areas it may be higher, or even as low as 3 ft. in a tea bush. The nesting material is generally rootlets and mosses, and the outside of the nest is bound with cob-webs.