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| Birds in Thattekad Bird Sanctuary | | |
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| Thattekad's birdlife is rich and varied. Around 250 bird species have been recorded in the small area and the list keeps growing. 14 of the regions 20 endemics can be found here. They include: Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Parakeet, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, White-bellied Treepie, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Grey-headed Bulbul, Wynaad Laughingthrush, Rufous Babbler, Malabar Lark and Crimson-backed Sunbird. | |
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| Other good birds include Red Spurfowl, White-bellied Woodpecker, Malabar Trogon, Brown-backed Needletail, Oriental Bay Owl, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Black Baza, Malabar Whistling Thrush and Black-throated Munia. | |
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| The presence of extremely capable bird guides makes bird-watching in Thattekad a rewarding experience. The best-known guide is K V Eldhose, a birding legend of Thattekad. That plus the bird-richness of the area means that a visit here is a great bird-watching experience | |
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| Indian Cuckoo | |
The Indian CuckooCuculus micropterus is a member of thecuckoo order of , the Cuculiformes, that is found in Asia from Pakistan and India, Sri Lanka east to Indonesia and north to China and Russia. It is a solitary and shy bird, found in forests and open woodland at up to 3,600 m.
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| This is a medium sized cuckoo with both sexes alike. It has grey upperparts while the underside has broad black barring. The tail is barred with a broad subterminal dark band and a white tip. Young birds have white markings on the crown and white chin and throat contrasting with a dark face. Juveniles are browner and have broad white tips to the head and wing feathers. The eye-ring is gray to yellow (a feature shared with the Common Hawk-Cuckoo). The iris is light brown to reddish. The female differs from the male in being slightly paler grey on the throat and in having more brown on the breast and tail. The barring on the belly is narrower than in the male. Nestlings have an orange-red mouth and yellow flanges to the gape |
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| Yellow-browed Bulbul | |
The Yellow-browed Bulbul, Iole indica, is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is a resident breeder in the hills of Sri Lanka and the Western Ghats of India and in small pockets of the Eastern Ghats of India.
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This is a bird of moist secondary growth. Despite its restricted range, it is quite readily found at sites such as Kitulgala and Sinharaja in Sri Lanka and the Western Ghats. It builds its platform nest low in a tree; two or three eggs is a typical clutch.
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| The Yellow-browed Bulbul is about 20 cm (7 inches) in length, with a long tail. It has olive upperparts and bright yellow underparts. The dark bill and eye contrast with the yellow around the eye. Sexes are similar in plumage, but young birds are duller than adults, especially on the face and flanks. The flight is bouncing and woodpecker-like. Yellow-browed Bulbuls feed on fruit and insects | |
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| Pompadour Green Pigeon | |
The Pompadour Green Pigeon (Treron pompadora) is a pigeon in the genus Treron. It is widespread in forests of southern and southeast Asia. It has several distinctive subspecies, and some authorities split the Pompadour Green Pigeon into multiple species.
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It is a widespread resident bird in forests of tropical southern Asia from India, Sri Lanka east to the Philippines and the Moluccas. In India, they are found as disjunct populations in the Western Ghats, some parts of the Eastern Ghats, Northeastern India and in the Andaman Islands. It remains fairly common in large parts of its range, so its conservation status is evaluated as Least Concern by the IUCN
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| The Pompadour Green Pigeon is a stocky, medium-sized pigeon, 25 to 28 centimetres (9.8 to 11 in) in length, with some subspecies significantly larger than others (e.g., chloropterus is significan larger than the subspecies from the Asian mainland). The head is green to greenish-yellow, and the underparts are green, though males of the subspecies phayrei have a pale orange patch on the chest. The crown, including the forehead is grey, except in the nominate subspecies where the forehead is greenish-yellow. The undertail coverts are mainly whitish or pale yellowish, though they are deep cinnamon in males of affinis and phayrei. The wings are blackish with distinct yellow edging to the wing coverts and tertials. The mantle is dark green in the female and deep purplish-chestnut in the male. In most subspecies, this includes the "shoulder", but in males of aromaticus the "shoulder" is very dark grey and in males of chloropterus it is green. Furthermore, males of aromaticus and some members of the axillaris group have a grey band above the mantle | |
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| Jerdon's Nightjar | |
Jerdon's Nightjar (Caprimulgus atripennis) is a medium-sized nightjar species which is found in southern India and Sri Lanka. Formerly considered as a subspecies of the Long-tailed Nightjar it is best recognized by its distinctive call
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Like other nightjars, it has a wide gape, long wings, soft downy plumage and nocturnal habits. At 26 cm in overall length, it is almost a head's length larger than the Indian Nightjar (C. asiaticus), and differs from that species in its barred tail, rufous rear neck, and wing bars. The male has a white patch on each wing. Otherwise, their cryptic plumage is mainly variegated buff and brown, as typical for the dark tropical woodland nightjars. This has a unbroken white gorget like the Long-tailed Nightjar but the tail is shorter. Sri Lankan aequabilis is slightly smaller and darker
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| Its typical call is a fast repetitive ch-woo-woo. Another call is said to be a frog-like croak | |
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| Collared Scops Owl | |
The Collared Scops Owl (Otus lettia) is an owl which is a resident breeder in south Asia from northern Pakistan, northern India and the Himalayas east to south China. It is partially migratory, with some birds wintering in India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. This species was formerly considered to be included within what is now separated as the Indian Scops Owl (Otus bakkamoena).
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This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping is the barn owls, Tytonidae.The Collared Scops Owl is a common breeding bird in forests and other well-wooded areas. It nests in a hole in a tree, laying 3-5 eggs.
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| The Collared Scops Owl is a small (23–25 cm) owl, although it is the largest of the scops owls. Like other scops owls, it has small head tufts, or ears. The upperparts are grey or brown, depending on the subspecies, with faint buff spotting. The underparts are buff with fine darker streaking | |
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| Frogmouth | |
The frogmouths are a group of nocturnal birds related to the nightjars. They are found from India across southern Asia to Australia.They are named for their large flattened hooked bills and huge frog-like gape, which they use to capture insects. Their flight is weak.
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They rest horizontally on branches during the day, camouflaged by their cryptic plumage. Up to three white eggs are laid in the fork of a branch, and are incubated by the female at night and the male in the day
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| They are mostly found in every part of India. They can also be spotted in the Batla National Park, Corbett National Park, Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, Pench National Park and Barwala Bird Sanctuary. | | |
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| Hotels & Resorts In Thattekad Bird Sanctuary |
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| The Hornbill Camp |
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 With over 275 species in such a small area, most of them endemics, Thattekkad offers a rare view into the world of birding in Kerala. The Hornbill Camp has been specifically planned to make you get the most out of your short stay here. This is the ideal place to sight the maximum number of birds in such a small geographic area. The camp is so located, to perfectly blend in the jungle, so you can enjoy your own private jungle and the spectacular view of the river Periyar. Along its banks, birds flock in their thousands and the cool ambience is the ultimate prize for the birder. This is the ideal place to be one with nature and observe nature in all its pristine glory as well as the birds in their magnificence. We recommend that you plan your trips during the months of October to May |
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| Soma Birds Lagoon |
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 Soma Birds Lagoon is situated near the Thattekad bird sanctuary which is also known as Salim Ali Bird Santuary. As Gods own country Kerala have different prime locations like hill stations, beach locations backwater destinations, wild life sanctuaries etc . Soma Birds Lagoon a part of Somatheeram Ayurvedic Group since 1985, The Pioneers in Ayurveda widely known across the globe. The soma birds lagoon is one of the prominent Bird Watching Resort in Gods on Country Kerala. Soma Birds Lagoon have different varieties of different species of birds photographs .Soma Birds Lagoon is an ecofriendly resort built in Kerala Heritage Style. The Soma Birds Lagoon is situated near the Salim Ali Bird Santuary.It is an ideal place to go for treking and night camping. The soma birds lagoon offerssafaries, boating, fishing which keep you indoors.
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| Travel Information In Thattekad Bird Sanctuary |
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| General Information |
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Thattekad lies about 60 kms from Kochi, so you can fit it easily into a Southern India birding trip as first or last site. To reach the more remote parts of the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary and the Idamalayar Power Plant it is necessary to have *own car. You can enter the Sanctuary only with guide. Our guides were K. V. Eldhose and his young assistant Sudeesh. Both of our guides knew the area very well, their help in orientation, getting permits and finding birds was essential. Eldhose is building a lodge, 3 huts are ready and he is planning to build 3 more. The lodge lies a bit further from the Bird Sanctuary, on the edge of a plantation. Thanks to the wise planning we can enjoy the sight of some common species like Stork-billed Kingfisher, Rufous Treepie, Jungle Owlet from the terrace. Due to Eldhose’s regular feeding the shy Red Spurfowl can be regularly seen on a grassy area behind the lodge. The roosting place of the Mottled Wood Owl can be reached easily on foot as it is very close to the lodge. Based on our personal experiences we can strongly recommend both the western style lodge and the excellent guiding of Eldhose.
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Entrance fee is Rs. 5 per head. Still cameras are allowed for Rs 25
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| Location : Ernakulam, Kochi |
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| Best Time to Visit |
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| The best time to visit is during the months of September to March |
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| How to Reach Thattekad Bird Sanctuary |
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| By Air |
| The nearest airport, is 71 kms from Thattekka |
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| By Rail |
| The nearest railway station is Aluva, at a distance of 48 km. Kochi |
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| By Road |
| The sanctuary is 13 kms North-East of Kothamangalam along the Pooyamkutti road |
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