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ornithologist

American  
[awr-nuh-thahl-uhj-ist] / ˌɔr nəˈθɑl ədʒ ɪst /

noun

  1. a scientist who specializes or is an expert in ornithology.


Explanation

An ornithologist is a type of zoologist who focuses on birds. If you want to know anything about our fine feathered friends, consult an ornithologist. Having a birdbath in your backyard doesn't make you an ornithologist. An ornithologist is someone who studies ornithology — the branch of science devoted to birds. Ornithologists study every aspect of birds, including bird songs, flight patterns, physical appearance, and migration patterns. Birds are genetically related to dinosaurs, which is something else an ornithologist might study.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The Welsh ornithologist said the popularity was unsurprising "because this is the first ever recording in Britain for this bird".

From BBC Jun. 9, 2026

The ornithologist Roger Peterson of the famed field guides once lived and studied its birds in the area.

From The Wall Street Journal Feb. 19, 2026

The project began in 2020 when Jack Devlin, then a Ph.D. student, was struck by a documentary about plastic pollution before later moving to Scotland to work as a marine ornithologist.

From Science Daily Feb. 16, 2026

Reading Erwin Schrodinger’s book, “What Is Life?” in his sophomore year set the aspiring ornithologist on a new course.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 7, 2025

Passing the exit ramp, how could his mind not be absorbed with thoughts of his favorite ornithologist?

From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers

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