Abstract:
White Browed Fantail (WBF) is a small bird with a characteristic fan like tail. They inhabit both wet and dry zones of Sri Lanka covering coastal
and inland regions. However, there are no studies related to its distribution
within the island. Therefore, our study was aimed at its distribution in Sri
Lanka along with its seasonal variation and specific behavioral patterns in
Kirala Kele Sanctuary. We extracted 5403 occurrence records of WBF
from eBird from 1975 to 2020 and plotted distribution maps. To study the
seasonal variation of the bird, 336 field visits were conducted from 2018
January to 2021 July in Kirala Kele sanctuary (5.9790 N, 80.5130 E). The
occurrence records show, the bird gradually spread within the island over
the past 45 years. They were less abundant in the Northern and Eastern
parts of the country. The occurrence records (n=88) revealed that WBF
inhabited the Kirala Kele sanctuary throughout the year except for
December. They use Kirala kele as a breeding and feeding ground. At
present, their temporal variations show they appear in higher abundance
for longer periods of the year in Kirala Kele. They show mixed flock
foraging with Oriental Magpie Robin, White-bellied Drongo, Yellow-billed
Babbler, and Common Tailorbird. In addition to flying insects, they highly
prefer ants.
