Red-vented Bulbul - Picnonotus cafer, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

House Sparrow chicks, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

House Sparrow chicks - Passer domesticus indicus, feeding, home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Indian Robin - Saxicoloides fulicata, home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

I noticed the blue feathers on the dorsum of the bird and was puzzled.

Brown-headed Barbet - Megalaima zeylanica, home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Purple-rumped Sun-bird - Nectarinia zeylanica, Female, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Purple-rumped Sun-bird - Nectarinia zeylonica, Male, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

White-throated King-fisher - Halcyon smernensis, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Common Tailor-bird - Orthotomus sutorius, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Brown-headed Barbet - Megalaima zeylanica, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

A very shy bird. It announces its presence by a loud call, from a branch high up hidden among the leaves. When the coast is clear it swoops down to eat what is on offer. If it detects human presence, it flies away in a jiffy.

Common Tailorbird - Orthotomus sutorius, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Purple-rumped Sunbird - Nectarinia zeylanica, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Note how the flower is pierced at its base by the sharp beak to suck the nectar. Pollination of the flower cannot take place.

Mynah taking a bath, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Brown-headed Barbet - Megalaima zeylanica, home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

A very noisy but shy bird.

Yellow-billed Babblers - Turdoides affinis taprobanus, taking a bath, home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Called also as the 'Seven sisters' they are always seen in a group. They are the noisiest in the garden.

White-bellid Drongo - Dicrurus caerulescens taking a bath, home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

'Is the water cold?'

Jumping in.

After the bath.

They come regularly on sunny days around 2 pm to wash and preen themselves.

An Indian Robin taking a bath, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Hesitating before getting wet.

In the water.

Out of the water.

Grooming oneself after the bat

Between 1 and 2 pm is the regular bath time on a hot day. They really enjoy the bath coming as a couple.

Black-hooded Oriole - Oriolus xanthornus, home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Come for a feed of a plantain fruit left in a container, home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Yellow-billed Babbler - Turdoides affinis taprobanus, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

The noisiest bird in the garden. They come in groups and are commonly called 'Seven sisters'. They and the garden squirrels forage together. Presence of a predator like a cat or rat-snake raises an alarm from both parties. Sometimes an infighting occurs among two babblers. It resembles a school boy fight. Shrill warnings and advice are given by the other babblers in the group and all is mayhem for the moment. It subsides in a few minutes and peace and tranquility returns.

Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafer partaking of a fruit, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.