Horton Plains National Park

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

🦡 Pied Bushchats on Misty Grassland
🌍 #148 Global · 3.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #19 in Asia #73 in Tropical Forest
Indian Subcontinent, Sri Lanka 631 spp. recorded

Horton Plains National Park sits on a mist‑shrouded plateau in central Sri Lanka, a tropical rainforest that blends cloud‑covered forest with high‑altitude grassland. The park’s network of narrow tracks weaves through moss‑laden trees, bamboo thickets and open scrub, offering a glimpse of the island’s upland ecosystem.

6.802° N   80.798° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare 5–15%
With luck 15–40%
Possible 40–70%
Likely >70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Sri Lanka White-eye ★
LC

Sri Lanka White-eye

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Zosterops ceylonensis

90–100% · Very likely
Black-cheek lizard ★
EN

Black-cheek lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Calotes nigrilabris

80–90% · Very likely
Sri Lanka Junglefowl ★
LC

Sri Lanka Junglefowl

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Gallus lafayettii

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Pied Bushchat
LC

Pied Bushchat

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Saxicola caprata

90–100% · Very likely
Yellow-eared Bulbul
LC

Yellow-eared Bulbul

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Pycnonotus penicillatus

80–90% · Very likely
Hill Swallow

Hill Swallow

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Hirundo domicola

80–90% · Very likely
Dull-blue Flycatcher
NT

Dull-blue Flycatcher

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Eumyias sordidus

70–80% · Very likely
Large-billed Crow
LC

Large-billed Crow

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Corvus macrorhynchos

70–80% · Very likely
Cinereous Tit

Cinereous Tit

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Parus cinereus

70–80% · Likely
Oriental Pipit
LC

Oriental Pipit

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Anthus rufulus

60–70% · Likely
Indian Blackbird
LC

Indian Blackbird

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Turdus simillimus

60–70% · Likely
Zitting Cisticola
LC

Zitting Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola juncidis

60–70% · Likely
Sri Lanka Bush-Warbler
NT

Sri Lanka Bush-Warbler

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Elaphrornis palliseri

60–70% · Likely
Grey Wagtail
LC

Grey Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla cinerea

50–60% · Likely
Common Tailorbird
LC

Common Tailorbird

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Orthotomus sutorius

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Indian Brown Mongoose

Indian Brown Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Herpestes fuscus

40–50% · Likely
Stripe-necked Mongoose

Stripe-necked Mongoose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Herpestes vitticollis

40–50% · Likely
Indian Palm Squirrel
LC

Indian Palm Squirrel

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Funambulus palmarum

30–40% · Possible
Sambar
VU

Sambar

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Rusa unicolor

30–40% · Possible
Toque Macaque
EN

Toque Macaque

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Macaca sinica

Insufficient data
Nilgiri Palm Squirrel
VU

Nilgiri Palm Squirrel

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Funambulus sublineatus

Insufficient data
Purple-faced Lutung
EN

Purple-faced Lutung

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Semnopithecus vetulus

Insufficient data
Rufous Horseshoe Bat
LC

Rufous Horseshoe Bat

Mammal

Rhinolophus rouxii

Insufficient data
Indian Bush-rat
LC

Indian Bush-rat

Mammal

Golunda ellioti

Insufficient data
Small Indian Civet
LC

Small Indian Civet

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Viverricula indica

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Sri Lanka White-eye ★
LC

Sri Lanka White-eye

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Zosterops ceylonensis

90–100% · Very likely
Sri Lanka Junglefowl ★
LC

Sri Lanka Junglefowl

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Gallus lafayettii

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Pied Bushchat
LC

Pied Bushchat

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Saxicola caprata

90–100% · Very likely
Yellow-eared Bulbul
LC

Yellow-eared Bulbul

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Pycnonotus penicillatus

80–90% · Very likely
Hill Swallow

Hill Swallow

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Hirundo domicola

80–90% · Very likely
Dull-blue Flycatcher
NT

Dull-blue Flycatcher

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Eumyias sordidus

70–80% · Very likely
Large-billed Crow
LC

Large-billed Crow

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Corvus macrorhynchos

70–80% · Very likely
Cinereous Tit

Cinereous Tit

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Parus cinereus

70–80% · Likely
Oriental Pipit
LC

Oriental Pipit

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Anthus rufulus

60–70% · Likely
Indian Blackbird
LC

Indian Blackbird

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Turdus simillimus

60–70% · Likely
Zitting Cisticola
LC

Zitting Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola juncidis

60–70% · Likely
Sri Lanka Bush-Warbler
NT

Sri Lanka Bush-Warbler

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Elaphrornis palliseri

60–70% · Likely
Grey Wagtail
LC

Grey Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla cinerea

50–60% · Likely
Common Tailorbird
LC

Common Tailorbird

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Orthotomus sutorius

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Black-cheek lizard ★
EN

Black-cheek lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Calotes nigrilabris

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Mountain Horned Agama
EN

Mountain Horned Agama

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Ceratophora stoddartii

30–40% · Possible
Common Green Forest Lizard
LC

Common Green Forest Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Calotes calotes

Insufficient data
Gloyd's Hump-nosed Viper
EN

Gloyd's Hump-nosed Viper

Reptile

Hypnale nepa

Insufficient data
Oriental Garden Lizard
LC

Oriental Garden Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Calotes versicolor

Insufficient data
Spotted House Gecko
LC

Spotted House Gecko

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Hemidactylus parvimaculatus

Insufficient data
Common Rough-sided Snake
EN

Common Rough-sided Snake

Reptile

Aspidura trachyprocta

Insufficient data
Ceylon Deaf Agama
EN

Ceylon Deaf Agama

Reptile

Cophotis ceylanica

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Jerdon's Bullfrog
LC

Jerdon's Bullfrog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Hoplobatrachus crassus

30–40% · Possible
Dull-green Shrub Frog
EN

Dull-green Shrub Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Pseudophilautus viridis

Insufficient data
Saddled Tree frog
EN

Saddled Tree frog

Amphibian

Taruga eques

Insufficient data
Ferguson's Tree Frog
LC

Ferguson's Tree Frog

Amphibian

Pseudophilautus fergusonianus

Insufficient data
Günther's Golden-backed Frog

Günther's Golden-backed Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Indosylvirana temporalis

Insufficient data
Common Indian Cricket Frog
LC

Common Indian Cricket Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Minervarya agricola

Insufficient data
Common Indian Toad
LC

Common Indian Toad

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Duttaphrynus melanostictus

Insufficient data
Round-snout pygmy frog
EN

Round-snout pygmy frog

Amphibian

Pseudophilautus femoralis

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Sambar Rutting Season

MarAprJulNovDec

Male sambar deer engage in loud, resonant roaring contests during the breeding season, echoing across the grasslands at dusk and dawn.

Sambar
VU

Sambar

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Rusa unicolor

30–40% · Possible
🐦

Migratory Raptor Passage

JanFebOctNov

Hundreds of raptors, including Oriental Honey-buzzards and Black-winged Kites, migrate through the park, soaring on thermal updrafts along the ridge lines.

Oriental Honey-buzzard
LC

Oriental Honey-buzzard

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Pernis ptilorhynchus

20–30% · Possible
🐦

World's End Sunrise Gathering

JanFebMarOctNovDec

Thousands gather at dawn to witness the sunrise over the sheer 884m drop of World's End, where the misty horizon reveals the valley below.

Sri Lanka White-eye
LC

Sri Lanka White-eye

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Zosterops ceylonensis

90–100% · Very likely

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
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
Sri Lanka White-eye
90–100
90–100
90–100
80–90
90–100
80–90
80–90
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
Black-cheek lizard
80–90
80–90
70–80
90–100
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
Sri Lanka Junglefowl
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
40–50
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
Pied Bushchat
90–100
80–90
80–90
80–90
90–100
70–80
80–90
90–100
80–90
90–100
90–100
80–90
Yellow-eared Bulbul
80–90
90–100
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
90–100
80–90
80–90
90–100
80–90
Hill Swallow
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
70–80
Dull-blue Flycatcher
80–90
70–80
90–100
80–90
70–80
70–80
60–70
80–90
60–70
70–80
80–90
60–70
Large-billed Crow
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
80–90
70–80
70–80
Cinereous Tit
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
Oriental Pipit
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
Indian Blackbird
50–60
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
50–60
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
Zitting Cisticola
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
80–90
70–80
40–50
60–70
50–60
Sri Lanka Bush-Warbler
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
50–60
Grey Wagtail
70–80
70–80
70–80
30–40
30–40
20–30
20–30
10–20
40–50
70–80
60–70
60–70
Common Tailorbird
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
40–50
70–80
40–50
Animal Events
🦌 Sambar Rutting Season
🐦 Migratory Raptor Passage
🐦 World's End Sunrise Gathering

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
🦡 Pied Bushchats on Misty Grassland

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
377
🐒 Mammals
99
🦎 Reptiles
110
🐸 Amphibians
45
631 Total Species
841 Global average across 280 parks
98 Threatened 3 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
77%
📊
Coverage (84 species at ≥5% of 631 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
13%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (11 bird, 1 reptile)
47% Global avg
20%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
132 Global avg
65
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
14 Global avg
7
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
26 Global avg
26
⚖️

Horton Plains or ?

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