Can I see hornbills in Udawalawe?

Yes, Udawalawe is a very good place to try and spot the Malabar Pied Hornbill, as well as the endemic Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, if you are lucky and stay patient.

These birds do well in the park’s riverine forest and the taller trees right by the reservoir edge. The Malabar Pied Hornbill stands out with its black and white feathers plus the big yellow casque, whereas the Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill looks quieter in tone, more brownish-grey really. They are quite noisy too, and the trackers often find them by listening to those echoing calls at the start of the morning.