What is the Study of Birds Called?

The scientific study of birds is called ornithology. It is a specialized zoological discipline, which deals with the physiology, classification and ecology of bird species.

What is the study of birds? 

The study of birds is known as ornithology. This field of science is all about the study of bird behavior, their physical form and their place in the environment. It deals with monitoring the migration of species and conserving threatened species. Ornithology is a combination of laboratory and field study in order to comprehend the evolution and survival of the class Aves.

Study of Birds: Key Details at a Glance

Name of Study: The research on birds is referred to as Ornithology.

Class: Birds are of the biological class Aves.

Father of Indian Ornithology: Allan Octavian Hume is known as the father of Indian Ornithology.

World Migratory Bird Day: This day is celebrated on the second Saturday of May and October every year.

Oldest Club: Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) is considered the best institute of bird research in India.

What is Ornithology?

Ornithology is the science of birds and their surroundings. The term is based on Greek words, ornis, which translates to bird and logos, which translates to knowledge. This branch of ornithology is unlike all other animal sciences as birds are frequently viewed, and heard.

Researchers in this area study the way birds fly, how they can sing and construct nests. They also classify the birds into various groups according to their physical characteristics. This is known as taxonomy. Birds are special as they have feathers and they hatch hard shelled eggs. 

Why is the study of birds important?

By studying birds, man gets to know how well our planet is doing in general. Birds are bioindicators or in other words they reveal the environment change earlier than other animals. When the number of birds in a given region reduces, this usually indicates that there is something wrong with the water or air quality in that area.

Birds are important to the economy and nature. They aid in seed dispersal and pollination. A lot of birds are effective pest controllers as they eat the insects which destroy crops. When working on bird conservation , researchers make certain that these natural processes will maintain human agriculture.

Contribution of Dr. Salim Ali

The history of the study of birds in India cannot be complete without referring to Dr. Salim Ali. He was the pioneer Indian to survey the country on birds on a systematic basis. His book “The Book of Indian Birds”, is a valuable source of reading among students and researchers.

He played a key role in the creation of the Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan. His explorations made the government aware of the importance of wetlands in the survival of birds. Due to his efforts, India has a strong system of preserving the habitat of birds. 

Who is the father of modern ornithology? 

Francis Willughby is considered the father of modern ornithology because of his classification of birds by physical characteristics rather than behavior or habitat.

What is the difference between a birdwatcher and an ornithologist? 

A birdwatcher is somebody who watches birds as a leisure activity. An ornithologist is someone who has undergone formal training as a scientist, whereby he/she studies birds through formal research methods and data analysis.

What is the reason behind bird migration? 

Birds fly away to seek a favorable climate and feed.During winter most migratory birds relocate to the warmer southern areas where they survive and mate after they find it extremely cold in the northern areas. Most  migratory birds move from cold northern regions to warmer southern regions during winter to survive and breed.

What are the number of bird species in the world? 

Birds have some 10,000 or 11,000 known species. This figure varies with scientists discovering new species or reclassifying the already existing species using the DNA testing.

Check out some more interesting articles from the general knowledge section to boost your knowledge of national and international topics. Stay connected with Jagran Josh for more topics like this.