Recent surveys have indicated that Kuttanad is home to 90 species of resident birds and 50 species of migratory birds. Painted stokes and a few rare species visit here during their migration time. Flocks of parrots & other migratory birds haunt the backwaters in and around Kuttanad and the adjoining Vembanad Lake hovering in the paddy fields when the rice stalks are in bloom.

Ducks and poultry are reared here in plenty. The bird sanctuary at Kumarakom is a favourite haunt of birds like darters, egrets, herons, cuckoo, teals, waterfowls, wild duck and migratory birds like the Siberian stork.