- Aims and Scope
- International Journal of Ornithology
Aims and Scope
JIO publishes research on all aspects of avian biology, with ecology, behavior, evolution and conservation as core areas. The research areas below are illustrative, not a closed list.
What the journal welcomes
The International Journal of Ornithology welcomes original research on birds, wild and captive, at any level from the individual to the ecosystem. Studies may be field-based, experimental, comparative, theoretical, computational or genomic, and may combine fieldwork with methods such as telemetry, bioacoustics, remote sensing or molecular analysis.
Captive-bird studies are considered when they address a scientific question about birds. Work that is mainly about veterinary practice, husbandry or production is considered when it also advances general understanding of avian biology.
Examples of research areas
- 01
Population and distribution
Abundance, habitat use, demography and range shifts.
- 02
Migration and movement
Routes, stopover ecology, navigation and tracking studies.
- 03
Behavioral ecology
Foraging, mating systems, communication and social organization.
- 04
Reproductive biology
Breeding phenology, nest sites, parental care and breeding success.
- 05
Conservation biology
Threatened species, habitat restoration and human–wildlife conflict.
- 06
Evolution and phylogeny
Speciation, adaptation and biogeographic patterns.
- 07
Physiology and morphology
Thermoregulation, sensory biology and feather structure.
- 08
Disease ecology
Pathogens, host–parasite interactions and the health of bird populations.
These areas are examples. Research that fits the journal's scope but falls outside them is also welcome.
Field observations and documented records
Careful field observations are welcome as Field Notes when they are documented with dates, locations, methods and supporting evidence, and when they are placed in the context of existing knowledge. Unsupported anecdotal reports are not considered.
Formats the journal publishes
JIO publishes the article types listed here. Requirements for each type are set out in the Instructions for Authors.
- Original Research
- Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Review
- Methods
- Short Communication
- Data Note
- Field Note
- Commentary
Standards that apply to the research
Research involving live birds, eggs, nests or specimens should follow institutional and national animal-welfare requirements, with ethics approval and field or collection permits where applicable. Authors report approvals and permits in the manuscript. The Editorial Policies give the details.
Editorial decisions are based on scope, scientific quality, methodological rigor, ethical compliance, reporting quality, and relevance to the journal.