South India Birding Hotspots
Thattekad
Thattekad is popular among bird enthusiasts because of the famous Dr. Salim Ali bird sanctuary, Thattekad. It is a must visit birding hotspot in south India. Dr. Salim Ali, the bird man of India, described Thattekad as “the richest bird habitat in peninsular India, comparable only with eastern Himalayas”.
Thattekad is mainly a low land forest along the banks of the Periyar river in Kerala. Altitude ranges from 35 to 488 meters with 1400 to 2300 mm annual rainfall. Temperature varies from 20ºC to 32ºC. Hottest period is April-May and coolest period is December- January.

Thattekad has a very rich bird diversity. We can find many of the Western Ghats endemics like Malabar Trogon, Malabar Parakeet, Malabar Flame-back Woodpeckers, Malabar Imperial Pigeon, Grey Fronted Green Pigeons, White-Bellied Treepie, Malabar Grey Hornbill and so on. Another highlight is the Ceylon Frogmouth. Ceylon Bay Owl and many other owls and nightjar species can be spotted here.
Periyar
Periyar National Park also known as Periyar Tiger Reserve is located on the higher reaches of southern Western Ghats in Kerala. With an area of 305 sq. kms, Periyar is a renowned tiger and elephant sanctuary. The Periyar lake, a huge reservoir created by the Mullaperiyar dam, with an area of 31 sq.kms is located inside the park.
Temprature ranges from 31°C in summer to 15°C in winter, depending on the altitude. Annual rainfall ranges between 2000 to 3000 mm.

Periyar national park is home to a large number mammals including Bengal tigers, elephants, Indian bison and more than 250 species of birds. Great Indian hornbill, Wayanad laughing thrush to name a few.
Munnar
Munnar, famous for it’s vast tea gardens and serene hills with cool climate is one of the busiest hill station in south India. Also known as Kashmir of the south, Munnar is a rich birding spot also.
Average elevation of the region is 1500 m above MSL and temperature can vary from 3 – 29° C. Annual rainfall ranges from around 2000 to 5000 mm. Vegetation in the upper reaches are mostly grasslands and sholas (montane patch forests) in the sheltered hill folds.

Munnar is a birding hotspot for many high altitude endemics like Nilgiri Pipit, White-bellied Sholakili, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Black and orange Flycatcher, Palani Laughingthrush etc. Eravikulam National park, famous for the endemic Nilgiri Thar is also a nice birding spot.
Chinnar
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located at a distance of 55 kms from Munnar town. It is the only rehabilitation center for endangered Indian star tortoise and home to most of the Grizzled giant squirrels.
Being on the leeward side of the Western Ghats, Chinnar doesn’t get much rain compared to Thattekad or Periyar. Annual rainfall is around 500 mm, spread across the months of October and November. Altitude ranges from 400 meters to 2522 meters (Kumarikkal Mala peak).

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is very rich in flora and fauna. Vegetation mainly consists of moist deciduous forests in high and mid elevations with dry deciduous and thorny scrub forests in lower regions. White-bellied Drongo, White- browed Bulbul, Spot-bellied Eagle owl, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Malkohas are a few among the regular sightings.