Ornithology is an international, scientific journal of the American Ornithological Society (the other is Ornithological Applications). It publishes original research that tests fundamental, scientific hypotheses through ornithological studies and advances our understanding of living or extinct bird species. Descriptive studies are considered if they present important discoveries or methodological advances that open novel avenues of ornithological research. AOS members can access and publish in Ornithology free of charge.

This journal has been published continuously since 1876. Its first, 8-volume series was published as the Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club until 1883. The second (current) series began with The Auk’s first volume in 1884. The Auk became The Auk: Ornithological Advances in 2014 to emphasize its revised focus on basic science. The journal was officially retitled Ornithology for its 138th volume in 2021. It was published from 1876 to 1883 by the Nuttall Ornithological Club, from 1884 to 2016 by the American Ornithologists’ Union (AOU), and since 2016 by the American Ornithological Society (the result of a merger of the AOU and the Cooper Ornithological Society).


Impact Factor

2.55 (2021)

5-year Impact Factor

2.79

Ornithology Editorial Staff

Editor-in-Chief: Christina (Christie) Riehl, Princeton University, criehl@americanornithology.org
Senior Editor: Wesley M. Hochachka, Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, whochachka@americanornithology.org
Senior Editor: Sabrina S. Taylor, Louisiana State University, staylor@americanornithology.org
Managing Editor: Mark Penrose, American Ornithological Society, aospubs@americanornithology.org
Special Features Editor: Kate Huyvaert, Washington State University, khuyvaert@americanornithology.org
Book Reviews Editor: Jay Mager, Ohio Northern University, jmager@americanornithology.org
Memorials Editor: Ted Anderson, McKendree University, tanderson@americanornithology.org

Journal Access & Article Submission Information

AOS members can receive free access to Ornithology via the AOS Member Portal.

Access Ornithology online through Oxford University Press.

Instructions to authors.

Submit a paper.


Substantive Areas for Ornithology 

  • Anatomy & physiology
  • Behavior & behavioral ecology
  • Biogeography
  • Climatology & global change
  • Ecology of populations, communities, and landscapes/seascapes
  • Evolutionary biology
  • Feather biology
  • Genetics
  • Life history
  • Movement & migration
  • Parasites & disease
  • Quantitative methods
  • Reproductive biology
  • Systematics