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ornithologist

ornithologist

5 8.3
A person who studies birds and how they live and behave
  • noun
  • /ˌɔrnɪˈθɑlədʒɪst/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ornitólogo
  • Last summer, the ornithologist documented over fifty different types of birds during her research in the rainforest.
  • ornithologists and ecologists
  • field ornithologists
  • British ornithologist

Examples

  • Just last week was the North American Ornithological Conference, a major gathering of ornithologists in Vancouver, British Columbia.

    Blog text (2)
  • The ornithologist observed the nesting habits of various bird species in their natural habitats.

  • "I am a traveling field ornithologist looking to study migration in graduate school."

    Blog text (3)
  • In 1947, the late Australian ornithologist Dominic Serventy began bird population studies to help resolve this question.

    Academic text (1995)
  • As a result, Omo National Park has much to offer both photographers and ornithologists.

    Academic text (2003)
  • But based on the barnacle goose's looks and behavior, most ornithologists agree that it deserves separate species status.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Ornithologists and amateur birders contribute recordings of bird songs collected from nations across the globe.

    Academic text (2011)
  • "The Galapagos is the workshop of evolution," says research ornithologist Glyn Young of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.

    Academic text (2009)
  • In 1900, Audubon Society ornithologist Frank Chapman suggested Americans should count them instead, leading eventually to the creation of the Big Year, a competition to see the greatest number of birds in North America in a calendar year.

  • Even fully domesticated waterfowl often resemble wild birds, but competent ornithologists can generally distinguish domestic forms by subtle differences in plumage and posture.

    Academic text (2006)

How Experienced

ornithologist
  • Specialized
5 8.3
birdwatcher
2 2.8

Surface Forms

ornithologist singular

Morphology

ornithologist = ornithology (semi-transparent) = ornith + ist

Formation from the noun 'ornithology' with the regular agentive suffix '-ist' is a predictable derivation.

Etymology

Ornithologist comes from the Greek root ornith- meaning 'bird' and the ending -logist meaning 'one who studies'. So an ornithologist is a scientist who studies birds.