ornithology

noun or·ni·thol·o·gy \ ˌȯr-nə-ˈthä-lə-jē \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

Definition of ornithology

plural ornithologies

1 : a treatise on ornithology

2 : a branch of zoology dealing with birds

—

ornithological

play \ˌȯr-nə-thə-ˈlä-ji-kəl\ or less commonly ornithologic play \ˌȯr-nə-thə-ˈlä-jik\ adjective

—

ornithologically

play \ˌȯr-nə-thə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

—

ornithologist

play \ˌȯr-nə-ˈthä-lə-jist\ noun

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Recent Examples of ornithology from the Web

Text and drawing together take us to the dawn of ornithology—that is to say, to the first efforts to collect objective information about birds.

— simon barnes, WSJ, "‘Pasta for Nightingales’ Review: Birdwatching Tips From the Renaissance," 13 Apr. 2018
Robert Prys-Jones, the retired former head of the ornithology collection, confirmed to me that recent research into feathers from the museum’s 150-year-old seabird collection helped document rising heavy-metal pollutant levels in the oceans.

— franz lidz, Smithsonian, "The Great Feather Heist," 21 Mar. 2018
Find more information here, http://eaglecreekpark.org/ornithology-center/.

— michelle pemberton, Indianapolis Star, "How you can get up close with owls, other birds at Eagle Creek," 20 Feb. 2018
To make sure his pessimistic message is right up front, a third of Brunner’s 19 chapters focus on famous liars in ornithology.

— richard o. prum, New York Times, "The Passion and Peril of Birding," 23 Jan. 2018
The team also plans on collaborating with Aboriginal authors on future publications, part of an effort to incorporate indigenous ecological knowledge into ornithology.

— asher elbein, New York Times, "In Australia, Arsonists May Have Wings," 5 Feb. 2018
Rick Prum, a professor of ornithology and evolutionary biology at Yale and a senior author of the study, observes in a Yale press release.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Scientists Shine New Light on the Blackest Black Feathers," 11 Jan. 2018
In the 1960s, Kenneth Stager, a senior curator of ornithology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, made a breakthrough.

— alicia ault, Smithsonian, "Turkey Vultures Have a Keen Sense of Smell and Now We Know Why," 21 Dec. 2017
Three judges from the fields of art, ornithology and wildlife conservation will select the winning waterfowl art the following day at 1 p.m.

— frank sargeant, AL.com, "Hunters cautioned to follow treestand safety procedures," 13 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ornithology.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ornithology

New Latin ornithologia, from ornith- + -logia -logy

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1654

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year

Other Birds Terms

aerie, bunting, clutch, covey, hackle, ratite, rictus, ruff, skein, zygodactyl

ORNITHOLOGY Defined for English Language Learners

ornithology

noun

Definition of ornithology for English Language Learners

: a branch of science that deals with the study of birds

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Spanish Central: Translation of ornithology Nglish: Translation of ornithology for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ornithology

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ornithological

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ornithologist

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