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Common Name : Ceylon Wood Shrike     -       Scientific Name : Tephrodornis affinis       -       Other Name : Common Wood Shrike / Sri Lanka Wood Shrike (E), Wana Koulaspatiya (S)
Panikkar Villu
04/10/2010
Radagama
06/13/2015
Radagama
06/13/2015

This species is endemic to Sri Lanka.

The conservation status of this species is regarded as Least Concerned (National Red List 2012).

This is a species protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as amended by Act No. 22 of 2009.

The call of this species is a very pleasant. It is liquid, flowing and mournful. I have seen this species through out the lowland dry zone and a few locations in the wet zone such as Kadugannawa, Oliyagankele at Kamburupitiya, Warakawala Watta at Gampola, Welimada, Bulathsinghala and Amebepussa army camp forest. In the north it is common in the Jaffna peninsular and the Mannar Island. The highest altitude at which I have seen this bird so far is at Koslanda at 736 meters.

They are usually seen in pairs but are seldom seen due to their drab colouration. The nest of this species is usually built on the fork of a small branch and is extremely well camouflaged.

It is a very common species at Wilpattu. In April 2010 I observed nesting of this species at Panikkar Villu and in June 2015 at Hunuwilagama.