The study of birds is called ornithology. Ornithology is a branch of zoology that deals with the scientific study of birds. People who study birds are called ornithologists. Ornithology encompasses the study of evolution, behavior, physiology, ecology and conservation of birds.
What does an ornithologist study?
Ornithologists study all aspects of birds and their lives. Some of the main areas of research in ornithology include:
- Evolution and classification – Looking at the evolutionary relationships between different bird species and how they are related. Finding out when different groups of birds evolved and how birds are adapted to their environments.
- Anatomy and physiology – Studying the anatomy of birds, including their skeletons, muscles, organs, senses, feathers, and flight mechanics. Investigating how their bodies work to fly, reproduce, breathe, etc.
- Behavior – Observing and analyzing how birds find food, migrate, attract mates, build nests, care for young, and interact in groups. Behavioral ecology is a major focus in ornithology.
- Population ecology – Tracking bird populations, habitats, and diets. Assessing population numbers and trends over time. Understanding how environmental changes affect bird communities.
- Conservation – Working to protect endangered bird species and their habitats. Developing conservation plans to preserve bird biodiversity.
Ornithologists use a wide variety of research tools and techniques in their work including observation, bird banding and marking, surveys, genetic analyses, dissections, field experiments, aviary studies, and more. Many ornithologists also participate in bird counts and atlas projects to monitor bird distributions and migration patterns.
Branches of ornithology
There are several subdisciplines within ornithology that focus on specific aspects of bird research:
- Avian ecology – Studies the relationships between birds and their environments, including bird habitats, foraging, reproduction, and responses to environmental changes.
- Avian ethology – Focuses on bird behavior and instinct, including communication, learning, courtship, territoriality, and social interactions.
- Avian evolution – Looks at the evolutionary history and development of birds over time, including the descent of birds from theropod dinosaurs.
- Avian genetics – Examines the genetic makeup and variation within and across bird species. Involves a lot of DNA sequencing and mapping of bird genomes.
- Avian morphology – The study of the physical form and structure of birds, including their skeletons, muscles, feathers, and other anatomical features.
- Avian migration – Deals specifically with the seasonal migrations of bird populations between breeding and wintering grounds.
- Avian paleontology – Focuses on bird fossil records to understand evolutionary relationships and changes among extinct bird groups.
There is some overlap between these subdisciplines. For example, studying bird behavior often relates to ecology and evolution as well. Different ornithologists may specialize in one or more of these areas throughout their careers.
History of ornithology
Humans have been fascinated by birds since ancient times. However, ornithology did not emerge as a formal scientific discipline until the late 18th and early 19th century.
Some key developments in early ornithology include:
- Aristotle’s studies on birds in the 4th century BC – One of the earliest records of scientific observations on birds.
- Ulisse Aldrovandi’s Ornithologia (1599) – One of the first published ornithology books with detailed illustrations and descriptions.
- Francis Willughby’s Ornithologia (1676) – Helped establish ornithology as a distinct field of natural history. He developed a systematic classification of birds.
- John Ray’s The Ornithology of Francis Willughby (1678) – Built on Willughby’s work with additions on bird anatomy, migration, and incubation.
- Mark Catesby’s Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands (1729-1747) – Contained handpainted engravings of North American birds, advancing knowledge of New World species.
In the early 1800s, pioneers like Alexander Wilson and John James Audubon made major contributions to North American ornithology through their detailed field observations and illustrations of birds. Bird collections, taxonomy, and scientific naming conventions were expanded greatly during this time.
Key moments in more modern ornithology include:
- Charles Darwin connecting natural selection to the evolution of finch species (1830s-1840s).
- Behavioral studies and experiments on imprinting in birds by Konrad Lorenz and Niko Tinbergen (1930s).
- Invention of bird banding techniques to track migration by Hans Christian Cornelius Mortensen (1899) and Johannes Thienemann (1903).
- Development of field guides, binoculars, and cameras to improve bird observation, identification and photography.
- Recent advances in telemetry, GPS, molecular genetics, and digital technology to track and analyze birds.
Today, ornithology continues to evolve with new technology, knowledge, and questions about birds. Many ornithologists are also involved in citizen science projects that enlist public help with observing and recording bird populations.
Major ornithology societies
There are a number of scientific organizations around the world dedicated to ornithological research and networking:
- American Ornithological Society – Founded in 2016 from the merger of the American Ornithologists’ Union and the Cooper Ornithological Society. Has over 3,000 members.
- British Ornithologists’ Union – Founded in 1858 in the United Kingdom. Publishes the journal Ibis.
- Deutsche Ornithologen-Gesellschaft – Founded in 1850 in Germany. Has over 8,000 members.
- Indian Bird Conservation Network – Coalition of Indian ornithologists and birdwatchers. Raises awareness about Indian birdlife.
- Australasian Ornithological Conference – Holds conferences across Australia and New Zealand. Founded in 1969.
- Neotropical Ornithological Society – Scientific society for ornithologists working in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and tropical regions.
These societies facilitate communication between ornithologists, host conferences, publish journals, fund research grants, and promote the scientific study and conservation of birds around the world.
Journals
Some of the major peer-reviewed journals that publish ornithological research include:
- The Auk – Published by the American Ornithological Society since 1884.
- Ibis – Published by the British Ornithologists’ Union since 1859.
- Journal of Ornithology – Published by the Deutsche Ornithologen-Gesellschaft in Germany.
- The Condor – Covers ornithology of the western hemisphere. Published by the Cooper Ornithological Society.
- Journal of Field Ornithology – Covers field studies and observations. Published by the Association of Field Ornithologists.
- Wilson Journal of Ornithology – Broad coverage of ornithology topics. Published by the Wilson Ornithological Society.
- Journal of Avian Biology – Covers European and global avian research. Published by Wiley.
Ornithologists publish in these journals to share new discoveries and contribute to the growth of scientific knowledge on birds.
Notable ornithologists
Some of the most well-known ornithologists throughout history include:
- Aristotle (384-322 BC) – Ancient Greek philosopher and naturalist who studied anatomy of birds and chick development.
- Mark Catesby (1683-1749) – English naturalist who created colorful illustrations of American birds in their native habitats.
- Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778) – Swedish botanist who established the modern, hierarchical system of biological classification and binomial naming of species.
- John James Audubon (1785-1851) – French-American ornithologist known for his artworks Birds of America featuring over 1,000 bird species.
- Charles Darwin (1809-1882) – British naturalist. Studied beak variation in Galapagos finches which influenced his theory of evolution.
- Erwin Stresemann (1889-1972) – Pioneering German ornithologist. Made advances in bird taxonomy and biogeography.
- David Lack (1910-1973) – British evolutionary biologist. Conducted studies on ecology and behavior of Darwin’s finches.
- E.O. Wilson (1929-2022) – American biologist specializing in myrmecology and island biogeography. Wrote The Theory of Island Biogeography.
- Jane Goodall (1934-) – British primatologist known for chimpanzee research. She has also studied and worked to protect chimp habitats in Africa which overlap with endangered bird habitats.
- Bridget Stutchbury (1961-) – Canadian biologist focusing on migratory songbirds and conservation. Studies whitethroats, purple martins, hooded warblers and other species.
These are just a few of the many pioneering scientists who advanced the field of ornithology over the centuries through their research, illustrations, books, and advocacy.
Why is ornithology important?
There are many reasons why ornithological research is important:
- Understanding evolution – Birds provide excellent examples of evolutionary processes like natural selection and adaptation at work.
- Environmental indicators – Birds signal environmental changes and challenges. Their population trends reflect ecosystem health.
- Pollination and pest control – Many birds are vital for pollinating plants and controlling insect pests.
- Seed dispersal – Birds distribute plant seeds over wide areas through their droppings.
- Guano fertilizer – Bird droppings (guano) are collected and used as natural fertilizer.
- Cultural significance – Birds have artistic, spiritual, and cultural symbolism to humans across societies.
- Tourism revenue – Birdwatching and related ecotourism provides billions in economic benefits globally.
- Inspiration for technology – Birds inspire bioinspired designs, aviation, and UAVs through their flying ability.
Overall, ornithology provides crucial ecological insights, environmental monitoring, contributions to evolutionary biology, and economic and cultural value from birds. Understanding birds helps us better understand, utilize, conserve, and co-exist with our natural world.
Conclusion
In summary, the scientific study of birds is known as ornithology. Ornithologists research all aspects of avian biology and ecology, contributing to our knowledge of evolution, the environment, and biodiversity. Key developments in ornithology include Aristotle’s early bird studies, Mark Catesby’s illustrations, Darwin’s finches, and new technologies like tracking and genomics. Major ornithology societies, journals, and researchers continue elucidating the biology and behavior of birds, and apply these findings to conserve species and habitats. Ornithology provides ecological awareness, evolutionary understanding, and cultural value regarding birds that are an integral part of ecosystems and human society.