Īristotle in 350 BC in his History of animals noted the habit of bird migration, moulting, egg laying, and lifespans, as well as compiling a list of 170 different bird species. Like writing, the early art of China, Japan, Persia, and India also demonstrate knowledge, with examples of scientifically accurate bird illustrations. Other old writings such as the Vedas (1500–800 BC) demonstrate the careful observation of avian life histories and include the earliest reference to the habit of brood parasitism by the Asian koel ( Eudynamys scolopaceus). 5) this subspecies from Asia Minor is extinct and all extant ostrich races are today restricted to Africa. For instance, Xenophon records the abundance of the ostrich in Assyria (Anabasis, i. Belon's comparison of birds and humans in his Book of Birds, 1555Įarly written records provide valuable information on the past distributions of species. The Egyptians also made use of birds in their hieroglyphic scripts, many of which, though stylized, are still identifiable to species. Artificial incubation of poultry was practised in China around 246 BC and around at least 400 BC in Egypt. Poultry farming and falconry were practised from early times in many parts of the world. Hunting of wild birds as well as their domestication would have required considerable knowledge of their habits. Traditional knowledge may also involve the use of birds in folk medicine and knowledge of these practices are passed on through oral traditions (see ethno-ornithology). Traditional bird names are often based on detailed knowledge of the behaviour, with many names being onomatopoeic, and still in use. 2575–2551 B.C.Ĭultures around the world have rich vocabularies related to birds. Geese from a wall panel from the tomb of Nefermaat, Egypt c. Waterbird and seabird remains have also been found in shell mounds on the island of Oronsay off the coast of Scotland. Birds were perhaps important as food sources, and bones of as many as 80 species have been found in excavations of early Stone Age settlements. Humans have had an observational relationship with birds since prehistory, with some stone-age drawings being amongst the oldest indications of an interest in birds. Trends include the move from mere descriptions to the identification of patterns, thus towards elucidating the processes that produce these patterns. The history of ornithology largely reflects the trends in the history of biology, as well as many other scientific disciplines, including ecology, anatomy, physiology, paleontology, and more recently, molecular biology. The word "ornithology" comes from the late 16th-century Latin ornithologia meaning "bird science" from the Greek ὄρνις ornis ("bird") and λόγος logos ("theory, science, thought"). Definition and etymology A collection of bird skins, belonging to the family Cotingidae Most biologists who recognise themselves as "ornithologists" study specific categories, such as anatomy, taxonomy, or ecology lifestyles and behaviours, just as with all biological practises. A wide range of tools and techniques are used in ornithology, both inside the laboratory and out in the field, and innovations are constantly made. Most modern biological theories apply across life forms, and the number of scientists who identify themselves as "ornithologists" has therefore declined. ![]() While early ornithology was principally concerned with descriptions and distributions of species, ornithologists today seek answers to very specific questions, often using birds as models to test hypotheses or predictions based on theories. Studies on birds have helped develop key concepts in biology including evolution, behaviour and ecology such as the definition of species, the process of speciation, instinct, learning, ecological niches, guilds, island biogeography, phylogeography, and conservation. ![]() It has also been an area with a large contribution made by amateurs in terms of time, resources, and financial support. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds. ![]() Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds.
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