Majuli's wetlands, seasonal floodplains, and oxbow lakes make it one of northeast India's better birdwatching sites. The island is a staging point on migration routes between Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, and from October to March the river channels and marshy areas fill with winter visitors.
The most spectacular are the Siberian crane and the bar-headed goose, which winter here after crossing the Himalayas. Great adjutant storks — now critically endangered, but still present in Assam — are sometimes seen around the water's edge. Pelicans, egrets, herons, and various species of kingfisher are common. The grasslands around the island perimeter attract Bengal florican and swamp francolin. Local bicycle guides familiar with the best spots can be arranged through most accommodation, and early morning — particularly around the wetland areas near the northern shore — is the productive time.