Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary is located in the Ernakulam district, about 13 km northeast of Kothamangalam along the Pooyamkutty Road. This bird sanctuary was established in the 1983 and occupies the catchment area of the Bhoothathankettu Dam. This sanctuary is the only one of its kind in Kerala. This sanctuary was designed by Dr. Salim Ali, the renowned ornithologist. He identified about 167 bird species and his student, Dr. Sugathan, identified about 207 species of birds. The Bombay Natural History Society has also identified about 253 species of birds here. The Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary attracts nature lovers from all over the world. 

The Thattekkad bird sanctuary covers an area of 25.16 square kms. This sanctuary is located at an altitude of 35 m to 523 m above sea level. The highest point is located at the Njayapilli peak (523 m). The vegetation here comprises of the tropical evergreen forest, tropical semi evergreen forests, tropical deciduous forests, trees of commercial value like teak, rosewood, venteak, venga and maruthau and patches of grasslands.

Some of the major wildlife animals found in this sanctuary are the Leopard, bear and porcupine. The elephant also occasionally visit this sanctuary. Besides this some of the birds which are found in this sanctuary are Indian roller, cuckoo, common snipe, crow pheasant, jungle nightjar, kite, grey drongo, Malabar trogon, woodpecker, large pied wagtail, baya, sparrow, grey jungle fowl, Indian hill myna, robin, jungle babbler and darter. Some of the birds which are found very rare are Crimson – throated barbet, bee-eater, sunbird, shrike, fairy bluebird, grey-headed fishing eagle, black winged kite, night heron, grey heron, grey hornbill, Malabar shama and Malabar hornbill.