Galloperdix bicalcarata
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%
The Sri Lanka spurfowl (Galloperdix bicalcarata) is a member of the pheasant family which is endemic to the dense rainforests of Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, this bird is known as haban kukula - හබන් කුකුලා in Sinhala. It is a very secretive bird, and despite its size is difficult to see as it slips through dense undergrowth. Often the only indication of its presence is its distinctive ringing call, consisting of series of three-syllabled whistles. Kitulgala and Sinharaja are sites where there is a chance of seeing this bird.
This spurfowl is one of three species of bird in the genus Galloperdix. It is a ground nesting bird, which lays 2-5 eggs in a scrape. Sri Lanka spurfowl is ~ 37 cm long bird. Both sexes have brown upperparts, wings and tail.
The males exhibit vivid crimson red legs and bare facial skin and striking black and white dorsal plumage that extends to its head. There is also extensive white ocellation on the sepia wings and upperback. The legs of both sexes have multiple metatarsal spurs, which give rise to the specific name. The female has chestnut underparts and a plain brown back and wings. She is more prominently crested than the male.
Sri Lanka spurfowl is a seasonally terrestrial species, like most of its near relatives. It scratches vigorously amongst the leaf litter of the forest floor for invertebrates, especially mollusks and insects. It will also take various seeds, fallen fruit and spiders. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sinharaja Forest Reserve | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | |
| 2 | Horton Plains National Park | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | |
| 3 | Yala National Park | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Ceylon Spurfowl sighting in Horton Plains National Park on a given day, based on 23 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 65th most-seen of the 102 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February–March, May and July–August
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Ceylon Spurfowl in Horton Plains National Park on a given day, against under 5% in April, June and September–January, the lowest months.
Between 2 and 5 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Ceylon Spurfowl sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.
2nd of 3
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Ceylon Spurfowl sightings, Horton Plains National Park ranks 2nd at under 5%. The best odds are in Sinharaja Forest Reserve (Sri Lanka, about 40%).
Same family: Phasianidae
The closest relatives of the Ceylon Spurfowl that you can see in Horton Plains National Park (family Phasianidae, Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies) are Sri Lanka Junglefowl (about 60%) and Common Peafowl (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Ceylon Spurfowl is recorded against all the birds logged in Horton Plains National Park (23 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
