The name “Devil Bird” belongs to an enduring mystery in the jungles of Sri Lanka, where the creature is known locally as the Ulūlama. For centuries, this creature has been characterized not by its appearance, which is rarely seen, but by its unsettling, human-like nocturnal cries. The search to identify the source of this terrifying vocalization represents an intersection of cultural belief and ornithological investigation. Scientific consensus points toward a specific, formidable avian predator responsible for the chilling sounds that haunt the night.
The Legend and Cultural Context
The Ulūlama holds a unique and fearsome place in Sri Lankan tradition. Hearing its distinctive, agonizing cry in the dark is widely believed to foretell imminent death or severe misfortune for the listener or their family. This superstition has persisted across generations, deeply embedding the bird into the cultural psyche of the island’s rural communities.
The deep-seated fear associated with the Devil Bird is perpetuated by a tragic origin story passed down through oral tradition. One version tells of a jealous husband who killed his son and served the child’s flesh to his unsuspecting wife. Upon discovering a tiny finger in her meal, the woman fled into the wilderness, screaming and wailing in anguish. The gods transformed her into the Ulūlama, forever echoing her sorrow through the forest canopy.
This narrative casts the bird’s scream as the feral grief of a human soul in torment, not a simple animal call. The belief remains strong in the dry foothills and remote forested areas of Sri Lanka, such as Wasgamuwa and Matale. This cultural background explains why the noise is often described in visceral, human terms, fueling the mystery for centuries.
Identifying the True Species
Ornithologists and naturalists have worked to distinguish the mythical creature from the actual biological species. A broad consensus identifies the Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl (Bubo nipalensis) as the most probable candidate. This bird is the largest of the twelve owl species found in Sri Lanka, making it a formidable presence in dense forest habitats. Its substantial size, reaching up to 65 centimeters in length with a wingspan exceeding one meter, aligns with descriptions of a powerful, shadowy figure.
The appearance of the Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl further contributes to its legendary status. It features silver-gray plumage, massive dark eyes, and prominent ear tufts, sometimes described as “horns.” This nocturnal predator is highly elusive, spending its days hidden deep within foliage and only becoming active at dusk to hunt. The difficulty in sighting the bird, combined with its size and terrifying calls, made it the perfect subject for cryptid folklore.
While the Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl is the leading contender, the Devil Bird’s identity has been attributed to several other species over time. Other nocturnal birds with strange calls, such as the Brown Wood Owl (Strix leptogrammica) and the Ceylon Highland Nightjar (Caprimulgus indicus kelaarti), have also been suggested. The confusion arises because the original descriptions of the Ulūlama were vague and based on sound alone. However, the physical and auditory characteristics of Bubo nipalensis match the legend most closely in the regions where the stories are most prevalent.
The Terrifying Vocalization
The sound produced by the Devil Bird is the defining feature of the legend, consistently described as unnerving and distinctly human in quality. Historical accounts and local testimony characterize the call as a “blood-curdling shriek” or a “series of dreadful shrieks.” People have repeatedly compared the auditory experience to hearing a woman’s hysterical scream or the sound of someone being slowly strangled.
The vocalization of the Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl aligns with these frightening descriptions. While its territorial call is often a low, resonant hoot, the bird also produces a high-pitched scream. This scream rises and then falls in tone, giving it an eerie, wailing quality. This specific sound profile is powerful enough to carry far through the dense jungle at night, explaining its psychological effect and deep connection to the folklore of death and distress.