White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis, home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Asian Open-bill - Anastomus oscitans, Mannar, Sri Lanka.

Common Hoopoe - Upopa epops, Hospital lawn, Mannar, Sri Lanka.

A commonly seen bird in the 1950s it is a rarity now.

White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis, home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

After laying its eggs in a hole in the wall of an embankment, the parents would be constantly on the watch for predators. I have seen them pecking at the head of a much larger ''Monitor Lizard' when the latter went close to the eggs. The parents feed the young ones till they are fit to fly. After about a week of flying they part ways. Even though it is called  a King-fisher this type exists by eating moths, dragonflies, grasshoppers etc.

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

On seeing fruits placed on the bird feed tray, this bird would alight on a high tree close by and would make its piercing call. After  a period of silence, it would fly down and eat the fruit. It is a very shy bird and would  take flight at the slightest distraction. 

White-browed Fantail - Rhipidura aureola, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

It repeatedly opens up its tail like a fan, hence the name 'Fan-tail'.

White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyernensis, Amithirigala, Sri Lanka.

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

This species pirces the base of this large flower with its pointed beak and sucks the nectar. They flit from flower to flower rapidly and are a real challenge in photography.