This range is one of the most important and richest bird habitats in the hill country. Due to destruction of forests the number of bird species have declined in recent years. There are more than a hundred bird species present some of which are endemic to Sri Lanka. Of the 24 endemic bird species 18 have been observed in the Knuckles region. More than 18 migrants can be observed here at different times of the year.

• Yellow-eared Bulbul   Pycnonotus penicillatus
• Brown-capped Babbler   Pellorneum fuscocapillum
• Legges's Flowerpecker   Dicaeum vincens
• Sri Lankan Grey Hornbill   Ocyceros gingalensis
• Sri Lankan Jungle fowl   Gallus afayetti
• Ashy-headed Laughingthrush   Garrulax cinereifrons
• Southern Hill Mynal   Gracula indica
• Spot-winged Thrush   Zoothera spiloptera
• Sri Lanka White-eye (Ceylon Hill White-eye)   Zosterops ceylonensis
• Yellow-fronted Barbet   Megalaima flavifrons
• Orange-billed Babbler(Ceylon Rufous Babbler)   Turdoides rufescens

In addition, a large number of species of butterflies, spiders and insects have been found in the Knuckles and some are endemics to Sri Lanka.

The diverse fauna of the Knuckles range

	Family	Genus	species	Endemic	Nationally threatened
Birds Amphibians Butterflies Molluscs Mammals Reptiles Fish	26 3 4 6 12 4 4	42 4 11 10 17 10 9	128 20 60 17 31 53 15	17 12 5 12 4 23 8	20 12 8 0 9 24 7
Total	55	94	324	81	80

Source: National conservation Review - 1993
A guide to the Biodiversity of Knuckles forest Region IUCN - 2003

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