This is a common breeding resident through out the country. It is found from the highest mountains to the arid areas and is also common even in the city of Colombo. Other than in Sri Lanka it is also found in India and Bangladesh.
The conservation status of this species is regarded as Least Concerned (National Red List 2012).
This is a species protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as amended by Act No. 22 of 2009.
This is the smallest bird species found in the country. I have seen them in the Horton Plains National park and in the arid areas such as the Mannar Island. The Sinhala name of this species indicates the relationship it has with the parasitic Loranthaceae plants. These tiny birds feed on the ripe fruits of the Loranthaceae plants and leave their sticky dropping on branches of trees where they germinate.
This is a very common species in Wilpattu and can be seen through out the park.