What does an ornithologist study?

An ornithologist studies birds.

Ornithology is a branch of zoology focused on birds, including their anatomy, behavior, evolution, classification, ecology, migration, and conservation. Ornithologists may study a single species, an entire habitat, or broad questions about how bird populations change over time.

Bird research has contributed to major ideas in biology. Observations of bird variation helped inform the study of evolution, while research on mating behavior, migration, learning, and territoriality has shaped modern animal behavior science. Birds are also useful indicators of environmental health because changes in their populations can reveal habitat loss, pollution, or climate pressures.

Ornithology is practiced by professional scientists and by amateurs who contribute observations through birdwatching and citizen-science programs. A common mix-up is confusing ornithology with entomology: ornithology concerns birds, while entomology is the study of insects. The word comes from Greek roots meaning “bird” and “study.”