Bird Walk at Thoothukudi (Near Vallanadu Wildlife Sanctuary), Tamil Nadu

Name: Bird Walk at Thoothukudi (Near Vallanadu Wildlife Sanctuary), Tamil Nadu
Start: 2026-02-22T06:30:00+05:30
End: 2026-02-22T08:30:00+05:30

About Thoothukudi

Located along the southeastern coast of Tamil Nadu, Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) is a vibrant coastal landscape shaped by the Bay of Bengal, expansive saltpans, tidal mudflats, and dry scrub habitats. While known as a historic port city, its surrounding natural areas offer a fascinating mosaic of wetlands, coastal plains, and arid thorn forests influenced by the nearby Vallanadu hills. Palmyra palms, Prosopis scrub, salt-tolerant grasses, and coastal shrubs dominate the terrain, creating a hardy ecosystem adapted to heat, wind, and saline soils. Seasonal water bodies and backwaters further enrich this dynamic environment.

Thoothukudi’s varied habitats support remarkable wildlife, especially birdlife. The saltpans and mudflats attract flamingos, gulls, terns, sandpipers, and plovers, while inland scrub shelters larks, shrikes, coursers, and raptors soaring overhead. Migratory birds arrive in large numbers during winter, transforming the coastline into a bustling avian spectacle. However, rapid industrial growth, coastal development, pollution, and habitat alteration pose significant challenges to these fragile ecosystems. Sustainable planning, wetland protection, and community awareness are essential to preserving Thoothukudi’s unique natural heritage, a landscape where industry and biodiversity stand side by side along Tamil Nadu’s sunlit shores.

Bird walk Location

Common birds of Thoothukudi

Thoothukudi’s wetlands, saltpans, and open coastal plains create a lively stage for an impressive array of birdlife. Shallow waters host Indian Spot-billed Ducks, Little Grebes, and elegant Black-winged Stilts, while Pheasant-tailed Jacanas delicately tread across floating vegetation. Waders such as Wood Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plovers, and both Yellow-wattled and Red-wattled Lapwings animate the mudflats with constant movement and calls. The wetlands also support striking waterbirds including the sleek Oriental Darter, flocks of Little and Indian Cormorants, graceful Little Egrets, Indian Pond-Herons, and Eastern Cattle-Egrets, with an occasional Whiskered Tern skimming low over the water’s surface. Beyond the wetlands, the surrounding scrub and open countryside come alive with Indian Peafowl, Gray Francolins, and gatherings of Eurasian Collared-Doves, while agile Asian Palm Swifts slice through the sky in swift, acrobatic flight. Together, these species reflect the rich blend of coastal and dry-land habitats that make Thoothukudi a rewarding and surprisingly diverse birding destination along Tamil Nadu’s southeastern shores.