Ornithology is the branch of biological sciences devoted to the systematic study of birds, encompassing their taxonomy, morphology, physiology, behavior, ecology, and evolution. It integrates field-based observational methods (e.g., banding, telemetry, acoustic monitoring) with laboratory approaches such as molecular genetics, stable isotope analysis, and comparative physiology to investigate avian systematics, migration, life histories, and population dynamics. Ornithological research contributes to broader disciplines including evolutionary biology, biogeography, neuroethology, and conservation biology, where birds serve as model organisms for testing ecological and evolutionary theory, assessing environmental change, and informing evidence-based management of species and habitats.
On Japan's desert islands, researchers uncovered a peculiar bathroom ritual among seabirds. Reporting in Current Biology, the team found that streaked shearwaters (Calonectris leucomelas) poop while flying—not while floating ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 18, 2025
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The 66th Supplement to the American Ornithological Society's (AOS) Check-list of North American Birds, published in Ornithology, includes several significant updates to the classification of bird species found in North America, ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 15, 2025
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A University of the Sunshine Coast-led study has uncovered evidence that sex reversal is more common in wild birds than previously thought—with potential implications for threatened species.
Plants & Animals
Aug 13, 2025
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California condors (Gymnogyps californianus) raise their young in crazy places. Cliffsides or rockfall on the sides of mountains are the typical haunts of condor families, making nest monitoring difficult for even the most ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 12, 2025
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Birds of feather don't always flock together, despite the adage. A study published in the Journal of Raptor Research tells the story of Arizonan bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) engaging in intriguing migrations by ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 12, 2025
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Scientists have captured unique on-board footage of Indian Ocean seabirds speeding just above the waves to catch flying fish on the wing.
Plants & Animals
Aug 5, 2025
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108
In a discovery that deepens our understanding of animal social bonds, a study led by University of Oxford researchers in collaboration with the University of Leeds has demonstrated that wild great tits exhibit clear behaviors ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 29, 2025
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Many species of songbirds have evolved to have strikingly colorful plumage, aiding them in catching the eye of mates, signaling, and recognizing each other. These eye-catching patterns have long interested scientists, who ...
A new study published in the journal Global Change Biology reveals that colonial-era landscape modifications have resulted in a devastating 80% loss of grassland habitat and significant declines in grassland bird populations ...
Ecology
Jul 23, 2025
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Researchers have conducted the world's biggest ever bird survey, recording 971 different species living in forests and cattle pastures across the South American country of Colombia. This represents almost 10% of the world's ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 22, 2025
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