Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, also known as the Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary in honor of the pre-eminent birder of all times in India, is located two hour's drive from the port city of Kochi, near Kothamanagalam in Ernakulam district, on the northern bank of the Periyar river. The sanctuary was notified in 1983 based on a recommendation made by Dr. Salim Ali many years ago. He described Thattekad in the 1930's as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India , comparable only with the Eastern Himalayas . Much of the forest has now been converted to agricultural and plantation areas, but the surviving areas certainly give glimpses of the rich bird diversity of the once widespread lowland forests of Kerala.

The best time for birding is from October to April.