Rapid Fire
Winter Migratory Birds in Assam
- 10 Jan 2026
- 2 min read
Each winter, Assam’s wetlands, riverbeds, floodplains, and natural & artificial reservoirs, become vital seasonal habitats for a diverse array of migratory birds arriving via the Central Asian Flyway to escape the harsh cold of Siberia, Tibet, and Europe.
- Central Asian Flyway: Assam lies along the Central Asian Flyway, a major migratory route connecting Arctic and temperate regions with South Asia, making the State an important wintering and stopover ground for long-distance migratory birds.
- Notable Migratory Species: Citrine Wagtail is the first avian visitor to arrive in Assam's wetlands, floodplains, and marshes.
- Bar-headed geese, White-fronted geese, Greylag geese.
- Northern pintails, Common pochards, Ferruginous pochards.
- Pied avocets, Falcated ducks, Great crested grebes.
- Glossy ibis, Eurasian wigeons, Purple herons.
- Important Wetlands & Birding Sites: Major migratory bird habitats include Deepor Beel (Ramsar Site), Maguri Motapung Beel, Pani Dihing Beel, Son Beel (largest wetland in Assam), Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (wetland lakes) and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.
- National/International Conservation Framework: As a party to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), India has launched the National Action Plan for Conservation of Migratory Species along the Central Asian Flyway, aimed at protecting critical habitats and migratory corridors.
- India is also a temporary home to other key migratory species like Amur Falcons, Black-necked cranes, Marine turtles, and Humpback Whales.
| Read More: Migratory Birds and Chilika Lake |
