Question

what is ornithology​

Answer 1

Ornithology is the scientific field dedicated to the study of birds. Any bird - whether it is a tiny hummingbird or an extra large emu - falls under the realm of ornithology.

And any type of research relating to birds, like a study of their habitat or migration patterns, is considered a part of the field of ornithology.

Answer 2

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Ornithology is the scientific field dedicated to the study of birds. Any bird - whether it is a tiny hummingbird or an extra large emu - falls under the realm of ornithology.

And any type of research relating to birds, like a study of their habitat or migration patterns, is considered a part of the field of ornithology.

All birds, from humming birds to peacocks to emus, are a part of the field of ornithology.

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A Brief History of Ornithology

Humans have been fascinated with the birds living around them since ancient times. Cave drawings and archaeological sites all indicate humans' interest in birds, both observationally and domestically.

Evidence for early humans consuming avian, or bird, proteins can be found dating back to Stone Age times.

In more modern times, birds continue to not only be a food source but also a fascinating field of scientific study. New technology has allowed us to band and track birds across thousands of miles, remotely observe their nesting behaviors and monitoring for environmental and habitat concerns.

And unlike many branches of science, which are often impractical for non-scientists to become involved with, anyone with access to the outside world can potentially be a first-hand observer of all things avian in their neighborhood.

Types of Ornithology Study

The field of ornithology is vast, but almost all aspects of its study can be broken down into one of three fields: collection, field-based research, and laboratory-based research.

Collection refers to the more traditional biological approach to the study of birds, through the collection of both live and deceased specimens. The specimens are analyzed in terms of their body systems, anatomy, physiology, and even their DNA.

Field-based research involves scientists working out in the field, noting population counts, taking bird song recordings, and sometimes collecting (either permanently or temporarily) live specimens for more direct observation.

Field-based ornithologists also make indirect observations, which include studying the nesting locations, nesting materials, or food resources available to the birds living in a particular location. They aren't direct observations of a bird, but instead are observations of conditions or settings that a bird would live in or interact with.

Laboratory-based research can include analyzing the results of field-based studies or analyzing live birds for studies relating to animal intelligence, bird-to-bird and bird-to-human interactions, and medical treatments.

It is also not unusual for multiple branches of ornithology to overlap over the course of a single research project and for ornithologists to collaborate.

A field-based ornithologist might study a hooded merganser, like this one, in its native habitat.