Tropical Birding Tour in South India

Name: Tropical Birding Tour in South India
Brand: Tropic Trails
SKU: 1949
Price: 2160 USD
Availability: InStock

OVERVIEW

Discover the avian diversity of South India on a birding tour across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, home to over 30 Western Ghats endemic bird species and more than 50 species found only in India, this journey offers exceptional opportunities to encounter a remarkable range of endemic and country-restricted birdlife.

Explore the varied habitats of South India, from the dry and moist deciduous forests and grasslands of Mudumalai to the lowland foothill forests of Thattekkad and the tropical evergreen and moist deciduous forests of Periyar. Around Mysore, birding takes place in dry deciduous woodland and scrub habitats, while Ooty and Munnar offer high-altitude montane forests and distinctive shola–grassland ecosystems

Mysore and Mudumalai offer opportunities to search for dry-country birds such as Tawny Lark, Sykes’s Warbler, Rufous-tailed Lark, White-bellied Minivet, alongside Indian, White-rumped and Red-headed Vultures. At Ooty and Munnar, highlights include the Nilgiri Sholakili, Nilgiri Laughingthrush, Palani Laughingthrush, Black-and-orange Flycatcher, Nilgiri Woodpigeon and Nilgiri Pipit. Periyar and Thattekkad add another dimension, with forest specialties such as the Malabar Trogon, Malabar Parakeet, Malabar Flameback, Flame-throated Bulbul and Black Baza. Night birding highlights include the Mottled Wood Owl, Sri Lanka Bay Owl, Oriental Scops Owl, Jerdon’s Nightjar and Great Eared Nightjar.

Birding is organized through early-morning and evening bird walks, habitat drives and forest trails, each tailored to the landscapes and target species of the region. Dedicated night scouts offer opportunities to search for nocturnal birds and explore the forests after dark.

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.)

Reviews

Jonathan Davies

Tropic Trails put together a 10 day Kerala itinerary for us. It included a dedicated driver throughout, and a series of activities and excursions, all including guides. We also had…

Darlene

What a wonderful adventure packed four days/three night stay safari in Mudumalai National Park that Anoop Jacob from Tropic Trails planned out at the last minute. His skillfulness, professionalism and…

Paul Kingsley

I was picked up from my Kochi hotel by a personal driver and taken to close to the reserve where we met the guide, Praveen. I’m not an experienced bird…

Massimo Calandrini

Viaggio nel Kerala per Birdwatching e non solo: Thanks to the organization of Tropic Trails, our trip to Kerala was truly memorable, intense and exciting. the areas visited are: Thattekad,…

Guillaume

I really enjoyed my birdwatching journey through the Western Ghats. The 8-day trip was very well organized — Tropic Trail was very quick to respond and designed an itinerary that…

Antonello Bacci

Extremely reliable operator: responsive, committed and highly flexible. Excellent knowledge of the area, skilled & talented staff, perfect organization.

…

FAQ

Can this tour be customized for photography?

Yes. If you’re a wildlife or bird photographer, the tour can be adapted to focus on prime habitats like Thattekad Bird Sanctuary (Kerala), Periyar Tiger Reserve, and Mudumalai National Park, where you’ll have excellent chances to photograph species such as the Malabar Trogon, Great Hornbill, Nilgiri Flycatcher, and even herds of Asian Elephants.

What is the best time to join this birding trip?

The most rewarding birding season is from October to March, when the weather is cooler and migratory species such as the Indian Pitta, Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher, and Black Baza join South India’s rich resident birdlife.

What rare and endemic bird species can I expect to see?

South India is home to over 30 endemic species. Top highlights include the White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Malabar Parakeet, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Nilgiri Thrush, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Wynaad Laughingthrush, Crimson-backed Sunbird, and the elusive Sri Lanka Frogmouth. These are among the main target species for keen birders.

Will professional birding guides accompany the trip?

Yes. Our tours are led by highly experienced birding guides who specialize in South Indian endemics. They are skilled in spotting and identifying difficult species, ensuring you don't miss key sightings.

How physically demanding is the tour?

The walks are moderate and designed for all fitness levels. Expect 1–3 hours of walking at a relaxed pace, often along forest trails in reserves like Thattekad or Periyar, with regular stops for birdwatching and photography.

What kind of accommodation and transport are provided?

We arrange comfortable lodges and eco-resorts close to birding hotspots. For example, you may stay near Thattekad Sanctuary in Kerala or in eco-friendly resorts near Mudumalai National Park. All transfers are by private vehicle with experienced drivers for smooth access to the forests.

Will we also have chances to spot large mammals like elephants, tigers, or leopards?

Yes, though sightings depend on luck and season. Asian Elephants are often seen in Periyar and Mudumalai. With luck, you might also spot Sloth Bears, Leopards, or even a Tiger, though these encounters are less frequent compared to bird sightings.

Are nocturnal bird species part of the trip?

Yes, evening and night birding is included. Using head torches, we’ll search for Jungle Nightjar, Jerdon’s Nightjar, Ceylon Frogmouth, and owls such as the Spot-bellied Eagle Owl and the rare Ceylon Bay Owl.

What should I carry for this trip?

We recommend: •Binoculars (8x42 or 10x42) for birding •Spotting scope if available •Camera with telephoto lens for photography •Lightweight breathable clothing in neutral colors •Sturdy walking shoes or boots •Hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent •A small torch or headlamp for night walks •Personal medication and reusable water bottle

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GALLERY

Please note that the cost of our tour includes the activities and accommodations specified in the itinerary as per twin sharing basis(min 2 PAX). For single traveller price may vary. 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.