A Birdwatcher’s Haven
Birds ... Berries and Breeze
Nestled at the foothills of Letchmi Hills, overlooking the tea gardens and grasslands of the Kanan Devan Hills, Mistletoe Homestay sits at a unique meeting point of habitats. This blend of shola forests, village groves, spice gardens and high-altitude ridges makes it an ideal hotspot for birdwatching—home to species you wouldn’t normally spot in the open tea estates or grasslands of Munnar.
Every morning, mist drifts in from the hills and the day begins with a chorus of bird calls. You don’t have to go far—many birds can be seen right from your balcony, the café terrace or the garden path. Guests can explore estate trails, enjoy balcony bird watching, and access our downloadable bird checklist. Whether you are a keen birder or a nature lover, Mistletoe offers a warm and soulful space to reconnect with nature.
A home filled with bird lovers
Mistletoe is more than a stay—it’s a home where the host family and even the children are passionate bird enthusiasts. They grow up waking to the call of the whistling thrush, watching bulbuls on the hibiscus, and rushing with excitement to spot a hornbill or a green barbet on the avocado tree or Kili Jnaval tree. Guests often find the children quietly pointing out birds or helping add new sightings to our growing bird checklist.
Birds commonly spotted around Mistletoe - Download
Over the years, guests, photographers and our bird-loving family have recorded several hill and forest bird species.. and our number is 110 +++
Because of its position at the foothills of Letchmi, Mistletoe attracts species that prefer tree- covered slopes, shola edges and spice gardens—very different from the birds you may see in the manicured tea plantations and open grasslands of the Kanan Devan Hills on the upper regions of Munnar.
A lazy birder's list
- Greater Racket tailed Drongo
- White Bellied Tree Pie
- King Fishers
- Chestnut Headed Bee Eater
- White cheaked Barbet
- Tailor Bird
- Golden Oriole
- Flame backed Wood pecker
- Common Iora
- Heart Spoted Wood Pecker
- Spider Hunter
- Vernal Hanging Parrot
- Malabar Whistling Thrush
- Red whiskered bul-bul, Red vented bulbul, yellow broad bul-bul,
- Golden fronted leaf bird
- Malabar Grey Hornbill
- Malabar Parakeet
- Oriental White-eye
- Velvet-fronted Nuthatch
- Indian Black Eagle
- Southern Hill Myna
- Orange & Small Minivets
- Sunbirds
- Ashy Prenia
- Black Caped Munia
- Asian Fairy Blue Bird
- Wagtails & Bablers
- Coucal
- Tits
- Golden Fronted Leaf Bird,
- Occasionally Seasonal Indian Pita
- Roufus Tree Pie
- Walk at your own pace through estate paths, pepper vines and village trails
- Borrow binoculars, download a Mistletoe Bird Checklist for your personal use from above
- Book a local naturalist guide for an early-morning birding tour to Letchmi slopes, Pothamedu, Eravikulam Shola or Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kallar Valley plantations ; each sub region can offer very unique species.
- Guests are always welcome to add new sightings to our list—we are still counting!
Why bird lovers feel at home here?
- Peaceful, nature-facing rooms with private balcony
- A family of bird lovers
- Unique habitat blend: shola forest edge, spice gardens, and river trails
- Easy access to top birding trails of Munnar and the Western Ghats
- Warm home-cooked meals, misty mornings, and soulful sunsets
