Thattekad, Kerala

Rusty-tailed Flycatcher
Birding at Urulanthanni
Birding at Urulanthanni

An evergreen lowland forest, Thattekad—including the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary—is located between the branches of the Periyar River in Kerala, making for a perfect birding mix of forest and wetland habitats. Areas both inside and outside of the actual sanctuary are well-known as one of the best birding sites in the Western Ghats. More of the Western Ghats endemics can be found here than probably at any other site.

Target Species

  • Red Spurfowl 
  • Grey Junglefowl 
  • Great Eared Nightjar
  • Jerdon’s Nightjar 
  • Fork-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo
  • Oriental Turtle Dove
  • Grey-fronted Green Pigeon 
  • Green Imperial Pigeon
  • Mountain Imperial Pigeon
  • Slaty-legged Crake
  • Black Baza
  • Crested Goshawk
  • Sri Lanka Bay Owl 
  • Indian Scops Owl 
  • Oriental Scops Owl
  • Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl
  • Brown Fish Owl
  • Mottled Wood Owl 
  • Brown Wood Owl
  • Jungle Owlet 
  • Brown Hawk-Owl
  • Malabar Trogon 
  • Great Hornbill
  • Malabar Grey Hornbill 
  • Oriental Dollarbird
  • Blue-eared Kingfisher
  • Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher
  • Blue-bearded Bee-eater
  • Chestnut-headed Bee-eater
  • Malabar Barbet 
  • Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker 
  • White-bellied Woodpecker
  • Greater Flameback
  • Blue-winged Parakeet 
  • Indian Pitta 
  • Malabar Woodshrike 
  • Orange Minivet 
  • Black-naped Oriole
  • White-bellied Drongo 
  • Bronzed Drongo
  • Indian Paradise Flycatcher
  • White-bellied Treepie 
  • Grey-headed Bulbul 
  • Flame-throated Bulbul 
  • Yellow-browed Bulbul 
  • Square-tailed Bulbul 
  • Green Warbler
  • Large-billed Leaf Warbler
  • Indian Scimitar Babbler 
  • Dark-fronted Babbler 
  • Brown-cheeked Fulvetta
  • Puff-throated Babbler
  • Rufous Babbler 
  • Wayanad Laughingthrush 
  • Asian Fairy-bluebird
  • Indian Nuthatch 
  • Malabar Starling 
  • Orange-headed Thrush
  • Indian Blackbird 
  • Asian Brown Flycatcher
  • Brown-breasted Flycatcher
  • White-bellied Blue Flycatcher 
  • Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher
  • Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher
  • Indian Blue Robin
  • Rusty-tailed Flycatcher 
  • Nilgiri Flowerpecker 
  • Crimson-backed Sunbird 
  • Little Spiderhunter
  • Black-throated Munia 
  • Forest Wagtail
  •   Endemic
  •   Near Endemic

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive at Kochi and drive to Thattekad

Arrive at Kochi (Cochin) airport, you will be met by our representative and driven to Thattekad for a check-in at Soma Birds Lagoon for a three-night stay. Depending on arrival time, the afternoon will include local birding.

Days 2-3: Thattekad

There are numerous good birding sites in the Thattekkad area, and your local guide knows them very well. You will undoubtedly see most of the target species listed above, with some of the tougher and more desirable ones being Slaty-legged Crake, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Sri Lanka Bay Owl, and Grey-headed Bulbul. Mornings will be spent birding in key areas according to your preferences, and after discussion with your guide. After a few hours relaxation during the heat of the day, it will be time to venture out again, including some night-birding for owls and nightjars.

Day 4: Thattekad to Kochi drop

Morning either to target some species you’ve missed up until now, or attempting to get some more great photos. Later drive to Kochi Airport for onward destination.

Checklist

For all our bookings we provide the most accurate and useful printable checklists available, specific to the actual areas you are likely to visit. In the meantime, use our interactive state checklists, or view the species bar chart for this area on eBird:

eBird India logo

Important information

Asian Adventures logo

As with all Bubo Birding tours, your booking is handled by Asian Adventures.

  • We may change the itinerary described due to various reasons such as latest birding information, availability of accommodation, state of the roads, and other unexpected factors that, this being India, do pop up from time to time!
  • We would be happy to make any additional travel bookings, e.g. domestic flights, car and driver, that you require.
  • The final price and itinerary will be confirmed before booking and depending on your expected arrival and departure plans.

See Asian Adventures for full tour details, including accommodation, meal plans, what's included, other exclusions, prices for different group sizes, single room supplements, cancellation policy, and booking process.

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