Can I see painted storks in Udawalawe?

Yes, painted storks are abundant around Udawalawe, and they are some of the most frequently photographed water birds in the national park.

These big, colourful birds gather in quite noticeable numbers near the shallows of the Udawalawe Reservoir, and also around smaller seasonal waterholes. They are easy to identify by their thick yellow beaks, white feathers, and that noticeable pinkish flush on the tail. You will often watch them wading quite slowly through the water, then sweeping their half-open beaks left and right to capture fish and frogs, which looks almost deliberate.