The Ornithologist’s Dictionary

Description

A vital tool for ornithologists: The Ornithologist’s Dictionary

The Ornithologist’s Dictionary is a comprehensive and accessible reference designed to meet the needs of bird researchers, naturalists, students, and birders navigating the expanding body of English-language ornithological literature. As the field of ornithology continues to grow rapidly in both academic and popular contexts, so too does the need for a reliable resource to clarify its expanding terminology. This book answers that need.

Created through an international collaboration of four experienced ornithologists, The Ornithologist’s Dictionary provides concise and clearly written definitions for over 5,000 ornithological terms in English. Whether you are reading scientific papers, consulting field guides, or engaging with birding communities online, this dictionary ensures that no technical term is beyond your reach. It is an indispensable companion for anyone working with English-language ornithological material, especially non-native speakers and those new to the discipline.

Why an ornithological dictionary matters more than ever

Ornithology today is a global science. English has become the dominant language for scientific publication and international communication. Yet, no matter how passionate or experienced the bird enthusiast, it’s easy to be tripped up by specialist terminology—especially when terms differ subtly across English dialects or have particular meanings in the ornithological context.

The Ornithologist’s Dictionary provides short, accurate, and easily understood explanations for each entry. Where possible, technical terms are first explained using plain English, with the scientific terminology following in parentheses. This clarity of structure makes the book useful not only to professional ornithologists but also to beginners, students, and international readers.

What you’ll find inside The Ornithologist’s Dictionary

This volume includes:

• Definitions of over 5,000 ornithological terms in English.
• Terms used in behavior, anatomy, field identification, breeding, migration, habitat, and more.
• Explanations of commonly used Latin words, abbreviations, prefixes, and suffixes.
• Inclusion of outdated or obsolete terms used in older ornithological literature, aiding the study of historical texts.
• English terms with specific meanings in ornithology that may differ from general dictionary usage.
• Botanical, ecological, and meteorological terms frequently encountered in bird research.
• Scientific and English names of all bird families and orders, including the number of species in each group.
• Appendices with classification references and taxonomic context, based on The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World (2003) and other major sources.

This dictionary was created with efficiency and usability in mind. Definitions are succinct to prevent information overload, while still being precise and helpful. The design prioritizes fast lookup and practical reference in real-life research or reading settings.

A must-have for both beginners and professionals

Whether you are taking your first steps into bird study or are a seasoned professional ornithologist, The Ornithologist’s Dictionary is a powerful tool. It saves hours of research time by offering immediate answers to questions that would otherwise require checking multiple sources. It is particularly helpful for translating technical concepts into everyday understanding, an asset in educational and outreach settings.

This dictionary is especially valuable for:

• Students of ornithology, zoology, or ecology looking for a trusted companion to support their coursework and research.
• Field researchers and bird banders who need quick reference to behavioral or anatomical terms.
• Editors and translators working with ornithological texts and needing authoritative term definitions.
• Non-native English speakers engaging with ornithological literature or international collaborations.
• Birders who want to deepen their understanding of advanced identification texts.

Reflecting the global nature of bird science today, The Ornithologist’s Dictionary was developed with multilingual users in mind. While all terms are defined in English, care has been taken to ensure the language is as universally accessible as possible. Moreover, the inclusion of definitions for related terms in other scientific areas (e.g., habitat types or dietary items) further enhances the book’s value.

The authors hope this first edition will be the basis for future updates, inviting feedback and contributions from the ornithological community to refine and expand the work. Their goal is to support international communication, standardize the use of terminology, and foster collaboration through shared understanding.

If you work with birds—scientifically or recreationally—The Ornithologist’s Dictionary belongs on your shelf or in your field bag.

Sample entry:

Episematic: used of traits such as special marks, colours, or behaviours that help an animal to recognise members of its own species; cf. antepisematic, proepisematic, pseudepisematic, aposematic.

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