Meaning & use
ornithologist
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Meaning
nouncountable
A scientist who studies birds, including their behavior, classification, and habitats.
Grammar: Countable; use 'an ornithologist' for one, 'ornithologists' for more than one. Often followed by 'who' or 'studying' to show what they study.
Patterns
- an ornithologist who studies something
- an ornithologist studying something
- a team of ornithologists
The ornithologist spent months in the rainforest recording the calls of rare birds.
As an ornithologist, she is often asked to identify birds by their songs alone.
Ornithologists rely on careful observation and tagging to track migration routes.
Word forms
| plural | ornithologists |
|---|
Common combinations
- amateur ornithologist
- The amateur ornithologist keeps a detailed diary of every bird he sees.
- field ornithologist
- A field ornithologist works outdoors, often in remote areas.
- ornithologist studying migration
- The ornithologist studying migration fitted the geese with satellite tags.
- renowned ornithologist
- She became a renowned ornithologist after publishing her book on tropical birds.
Synonyms and how they differ
- birdwatcher
- Use 'birdwatcher' for someone who watches birds as a hobby, not as a professional scientist.
- birder
- 'Birder' is an informal term for a birdwatcher; it does not imply formal scientific training.
Word family
- ornithology noun
- The scientific study of birds.
- ornithological adjective
- Relating to the study of birds, as in 'ornithological research'.
Commonly confused: ornithologist or ornithologist vs. birdwatcher?
ornithologist vs ornithologist vs. birdwatcher
An ornithologist is a professional scientist; a birdwatcher is an amateur enthusiast. They can overlap, but the terms are not interchangeable.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'ornithologist' correctly?
Choose one answer.
An ornithologist studies birds, so watching birds fits. The other options describe unrelated professions or hobbies.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ornithologist”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.