South India Birding Tour

OVERVIEW

Tropic Trails South India Birding Holiday offers a captivating journey through three vibrant states: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. These regions are not only rich in culture and history but also home to some of the most spectacular and diverse birding habitats in India. With over 50 species of endemic birds, this tour covers renowned national parks and sanctuaries, each with its unique environment and wildlife. The journey promises an incredible opportunity for bird enthusiasts to witness some of the rarest species found nowhere else in the world.

Starting from the historical city of Mysore, you’ll embark on a journey that traverses the foothills and valleys of the Western Ghats. Your adventure begins at Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, a paradise for migratory birds located on the banks of the Cauvery River. As you explore this sanctuary, you’ll have the chance to spot species such as Painted Storks, Spoonbills, and the elusive Indian Eagle Owl, along with numerous other water birds. The sanctuary also shelters a healthy population of Mugger Crocodiles, which you may see basking by the riverbanks.

From Mysore, the tour continues to Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, a rich habitat of dry deciduous forests and grasslands. The reserve is home to an incredible array of birdlife, including the Malabar Lark, White-bellied Drongo, and the Crested Treeswift. Mudumalai is also renowned for its large mammals, and while birdwatching, you may also come across Indian Gaur, Elephants, and even the elusive Bengal Tiger.

Your journey next takes you to the Nilgiri Hills, where the cool climate and misty forests offer a unique birding experience. Ooty, a hill station that was once the summer retreat of the British, offers a blend of colonial charm and natural beauty. The shola forests and grassy meadows around Ooty are home to several endemic species, including the Nilgiri Flycatcher, Nilgiri Laughingthrush, and the striking Black-and-Orange Flycatcher. With its rich flora and fauna, Ooty is a birdwatcher’s delight.

Continuing the expedition, you will arrive at Munnar, known for its tea plantations and high-altitude montane forests. Munnar offers an impressive array of bird species, with many endemics such as the White-bellied Blue Robin and the Palani Laughingthrush. The scenery here is breathtaking, with rolling hills covered in tea gardens, alpine vegetation, and rocky cliffs that provide the perfect backdrop for spotting some of the rarest birds in the Western Ghats.

The grand finale of this journey is in Kerala, at the world-renowned Periyar Tiger Reserve and the bird-rich forests of Thattekkad. Periyar is famous not only for its elephants and tigers but also for its vibrant birdlife, including the majestic Great Indian Hornbill, Wayanad Laughinthrush, and the Rufous Babbler. Thattekkad, on the other hand, offers excellent opportunities to see nocturnal species such as the Sri Lanka Frogmouth and the Mottled Wood Owl.

Throughout the tour, you will be accompanied by an experienced local naturalist who knows the region intimately and will guide you to the best birding spots. With comfortable accommodations, scenic drives, and the opportunity to savour the local cuisine, this South India Birding Holiday offers not just birdwatching but a complete immersion in the region’s natural and cultural heritage.

HIGHLIGHTS

Diverse Birding Hotspots across Three States
Scenic Landscapes and Unique Habitats
Guided by Expert Naturalists

ITINERARY

Day 1:

Mysore

All Meals

Airport Pickup & Travel to Mysore

Detailed Plan

A Tropic Trail representative will pick you up form Bangalore International Airport and transfer you to Mysore

Day 2:

Mysore

All Meals

Birdwatching & Boat Safari

Detailed Plan

Amidst the city’s growing population Mysore has a numerous birding hotspot in the outskirts. In the morning You will be transferred to Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary, it includes a chain of small islands and the banks of the Cauvery River. Storks, Spoonbills, Ibises and Cormorants are seen in flocks along the river and a huge population of Mugger Crocodiles are also found here. Most of the birding in the sanctuary will be done along the river on a safari boat. In the evening you will look for Rufous-tailed Lark, Rock Eagle Owl, Indian Bushlark, Red Avadavat, Mottled Wood Owl and Singing Bushlark.

Day 3:

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Masinagudi

All Meals

Birdwatching

Detailed Plan

Our next destination is Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. The name Mudumalai in the local language translates to ‘ancient mountain range’. You will set off for Mudumalai after breakfast, enroute we will stop for birding looking out for Yellow-Throated Bulbul, Red Avadavat, Indian Vulture and white-eyed Buzzard. You will reach the hotel for lunch. We will go for birding in the evening, key species to look out for includes; Indian Nuthatch, White-napped Woodpecker, Crested Treeswift, Indian Pitta, Jungle Bush-Quail and Malabar Lark.

Day 4:

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Masinagudi

All Meals

Birdwatching

Detailed Plan

Full day birding at Mudumalai, the dry deciduous forest and the short dry grassland has many more birds to add to your list. Other species we may find in this area includes Blue-faced Malkoha, Jordon’s Bushlark, White-bellied Minivet, Tawny-bellied Babbler, White-bellied Drongo, Bay-backed Shrike, Long-tailed shrike, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Plum-headed Parakeet, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Black-headed Cuckoo-Shrike, Grey-bellied Cuckoo, Coppersmith Barbet, Yellow-eyed Babbler, White-browed Fantail, Indian-blue Robin, White-rumped Shama and Crested Hawk-Eagle.

Day 5:

Ooty

All Meals

Birdwatching

Detailed Plan

Ooty town in the Nilgiri Hills was found by the British in 1821 and used as the summer headquarters for the Madras Presidency until the independence in 1947. The town is set at an elevation of 2300 meters above sea level. The majority of the land is either tea or eucalyptus plantation, most of the birding here is done in the Shola Forest patches and grassy meadows. Key species to lookout for includes, Nilgiri endemics such as Nilgiri Flycatcher, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Nilgiri Laughingthrush (or Black-chinned), the striking Black and Orange Flycatcher, Nilgiri Blue Robin, Nilgiri Pipit and the top-notch species of the region Nilgiri thrush.

Day 6:

Ooty

All Meals

Birdwatching

Detailed Plan

Full day birding at Ooty. Amongst the endemics, other species we may well see are Painted Bush-Quail, Square-tailed Bulbul, Tickell’s Leaf Warbler, Brown-cheeked Fulvetta, White-spotted Fantail, Indian Yellow Tit, Grey Jungle Fowl, Indian Blackbird, common Rosefinch, Indian White-eye, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher and Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike.

Day 7:

Munnar

All Meals

Birdwatching

Detailed Plan

You will start early for Munnar. Munnar is another hotspot with multiple spectacular bird populations, the habitat varies from High Altitude Montane Forests (Shola) to Grassland and tea plantations, the highest point is 2600 meters above sea level. The birdlife of Munnar is similar to that at Ooty, so you have a chance to catch up if we may have missed any. You will conclude the day upon the evening birding session.

Day 8:

Munnar

All Meals

Birdwatching

Detailed Plan

You will start early today; the morning will be spent at Eravikulam National Park at Munnar. The soaring rocky hill and the grasslands, alpine plants covering the hill slopes and Shola Forest carpeting the valleys, the view from the park is breath-taking. The park hosts a remarkable number of endemics such as, White-bellied Blue Robin, Palani Laughingthrush, Nilgiri Pipit, Black and Orange Flycatcher, Square-tailed Bulbul, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Nilgiri Thrush and sometimes Broad-tailed Grassbird which seen extremely rare. Full day birding at Munnar.

Day 9:

Periyar Tiger Reserve, Thekkady

All Meals

Birdwatching

Detailed Plan

You will set of for Periyar Tiger Reserve, enroute we will look out for the confined Yellow-throated Bulbul. Other species we may pick up includes, Brown-headed Barbet, Jungle Prinia, Yellow-billed Babbler, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Blue-faced Malkoha, White-browed Bulbul, Purple-rumped Sunbird, Black Eagle, Common Woodshrike, Chestnut-head Bea-eater, Indian Swiftlet, Common Iora, White-bellied, Bronzed Drongo, Purple Sunbird, Asian Palm Swift, Booted Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Common Kestrel and Tawny-bellied Babbler. Evening birding at Periyar Tiger Reserve, Key species to look for includes Rufous Babbler, Dark-fronted Babbler, Common Flame-back and Heart-spotted Woodpecker and the prime target Waynaad Laughingthrush which every birder seek to see.

Day 10:

Periyar Tiger Reserve, Thekkady

All Meals

Birdwatching

Detailed Plan

Periyar Tiger reserve covers an area of 777 sq. km and is home to a wide range of flora and fauna. The lush green forest gets its name from River Periyar which origin deep inside the reserve. We will be birding in the moist deciduous and evergreen forests of the reserve Birds to look out for include Great Indian Hornbill, Malabar Trogon, White-bellied Treepie, Grey-fronted Green Pigeon, Jungle Owlet, Black Baza, Woolly-necked Stork, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Indian Paradise Flycatcher, Oriental Scops owl, Rufous Woodpecker, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Malabar-grey Hornbill, Malabar Parakeet and Indian Scimitar babbler. The trails in the reserve offer a good chance of seeing a few mammals as well, Elephants, Sambar Deer, Indian Gaur, and Nilgiri Langur are a few to name. Night at Thekkady.

Day 11:

Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Thattekkad

All Meals

Birdwatching

Detailed Plan

Upon finishing the morning session at Periyar, you will set off for Thattekkad one of the bird-rich places in south India. Most of the birding is done, in and around the Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary The avifauna of the sanctuary includes residents and migratory birds. The lush tropical rainforest bears many endangered and endemic species, the wetland formed along the river Periyar and the foothills covered with semi-evergreen forest and teak trees forms unique habitats and hosts species restricted to such ecotones. The area has the most endemic birds of the Western Ghats, Crimson-backed Sunbird, Grey-headed Bulbul, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Flame-throated Bulbul, Malabar Woodshrike, Malabar Barbet, Grey-fronted Green Pigeon, Malabar Starling, Nilgiri Flowerpecker and White cheeked Barbet etc.

Day 12:

Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Thattekkad

All Meals

Birdwatching

Detailed Plan

Full day birding at Thattekkad. A good number of nocturnal species is also expected from here, both during the day and at night such as Mottled Wood Owl, Oriental Scops Owl, Indian Scops Owl, Brown Fish Owl, Brown Hawk Owl, and Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Jerdon’s Nightjar and Great-eared Nightjar etc. We will also be spending a considerable amount of time in search of the Sri Lanka Bay Owl another top species from the foothills.

Day 13:

Departure

All Meals

Birdwatching

Detailed Plan

You will be transferred to Cochin International Airport (1 hrs.)

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ROUTE MAP

Please note that the cost of our tour includes the activities and accommodations specified in the itinerary. Any additional expenses, such as laundry services or beverages (including alcoholic drinks), are not covered and can be settled directly with the hotels or establishments where these services are provided.