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 A proportion of resident species range quite
widely over the area, particularly outside their breeding season (R/LM, e.g. Whiterumped and Blackheaded Munias). Winter visitors (WV) and passage
migrants (PM) account for a further 20% and three species are either vagrant
(V) or of indeterminate status. The remaining species, about 12%, are a
mixture of local and altitudinal migrants (LM). It includes species with
established seasonal migration patterns (Herons and Egrets) as well as a few
species which only occur here rarely though in the wider region they are
resident species (Egyptian Vulture) and also species which though they are
known to have bred in the sanctuary are only present for part of the year,
such as Hoopoe and Indian Roller, and which are categorised as LM/B.
Bird watching will produce a list of about 20 easily seen
lake species and time spent on the grassy edges of the creeks near Thekkady
may add half-a-dozen more. The only accessible area of mud flats is
immediately above the small check dam near the head works on the edge of
Kumili. Forest areas on the other hand are enormously productive,
 particularly where
interspersed with glades and clearings, and this habitat predominates in
the Tourist Zone. It is necessary to arrange a guide for walking, except on
the Thekkady peninsula, though a short excursion of a mile or two is usually
sufficient.
In deciduous forest around Thekkady the commonest species
in mixed foraging flocks are, in descending order Racket-tailed Drongo,
Scarlet Minivet, Velvetfronted Nuthatch, Bronzed Drongo, Grey Tit,
Goldenback Woodpeckers, Whitebellied Tree Pie, Jungle Babbler, Indian Rufous
Tree Pie, Yellowbrowed Bulbul, Large Wood Shrike, Ashy Drongo, Small Minivet,
Goldfronted Chloropsis, Small Green Barbet, Flowerpeckers. Other common
members include Orioles, Fairy Bluebird, Leaf Warbler Flycatchers and
Quaker Babbler. Very few species recorded in the sanctuary cannot at one
time or another seen in the Tourist Zone, though it is necessary to climb to
the grassy hilltops find some such as Brown Rock Pipit and Pied Bush Chat.
Getting There
The park is well connected
by bus service from the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram (271 km), as
well as the cities of Kochi (200 km), Kottayam (117 km), and Madurai (140
km). The nearest rail junction is Kottayam. The nearest national airports
are Kochi (200 km) and Madurai (140 km).
Best Time for birding
The best time for birding
is from October to April.
Bird List:
Click here for bird list
Trip reports:
Click here for trip
reports
Regional Operator
partners
Information given here has been solely contributed by our
operator-partners Kalypso Adventures, who operate all the tours in
this region.
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Periyar
is well located as a centre for seeing most of these ornithological
specialties of the Western Ghats, as well as large numbers of other resident
hill species and migrants. Its attraction for birdwatchers is enhanced by
the proximity of low lying plains on three sides. There is considerable
local migration, often in the drier weather, of lowland species up into the
foothills, and several interesting examples of ecological counterparts in
pairs of wet zone and dry zone species can be found, e.g. the Barbets.
This is particularly noticeable at Thekkady, conveniently sited near the
top of a steep 450m/1500ft ghat above the dry Tamil Nadu plain.
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