ornithology

Ornithology is the scientific study of birds, a discipline within zoology that encompasses the biology, ecology, behavior, and conservation of avian species. Researchers examine anatomy and physiology, including flight mechanics, respiration, and reproduction; behavior such as song, mating, foraging, and social organization; and ecology, including habitat use, migration, population dynamics, and interspecies relationships. The field draws on field observation, specimen collection, experiments, and increasingly molecular methods to study evolution and diversity.

Historically, early naturalists described birds and their anatomy; modern ornithology developed with Linnaeus's taxonomy, and 19th–20th century field guides and museums. Important advances include banding and tracking techniques, imaging, and genetic analyses that clarify phylogeny and population structure. Subfields include avian physiology, behavior (ethology), ecology, systematics, paleornithology, and conservation biology.

Birds are used as model organisms for flight biomechanics and sensory biology. Ornithology has practical implications for conservation, agriculture, and public health, as birds serve as indicators of environmental health and as pollinators and seed dispersers in ecosystems. Conservation efforts focus on protecting migratory flyways, habitats, and threatened species, supported by population monitoring, habitat restoration, and international agreements.

Taxonomy places birds within the class Aves, which are theropod dinosaurs sharing features such as feathered bodies, beaks without teeth in most groups, and high metabolic rates. Major families and orders reflect diverse life histories, from passerines to raptors and waterfowl.