Deepal Warakagoda

Who is Deepal Warakagoda?

Deepal Warakagoda is a prominent Sri Lankan ornithologist. His early working career was in electronics, but for many years he has studied birds and also works as a professional guide for birding tours of the island.

He discovered a new species of bird endemic to Sri Lanka, the Serendib Scops Owl. His expertise in vocalizations had enabled him to realize that an owl he heard calling near Kitulgala was an unknown species, and he later saw this bird in January 2001 in the Sinharaja rainforest.

He has also identified 15 new migrant species of birds in Sri Lanka, and has published a large number of articles on the avifauna of Sri Lanka.

Warakgoda is Sri Lanka's foremost sound recordist in natural history subjects, and has produced and published the only comprehensive audio guide to the island's birds. He has an unmatched knowledge of Sri Lanka's bird songs and calls. His recordings of the island's distinct bird species have played a major role in the recognition of several of them as endemic to Sri Lanka in the book Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide by Pamela C. Rasmussen and John C. Anderton.