IOCongress® 2026
Mérida, Yucatán, México
29th International Ornithological Congress® (IOCongress®)
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House Sparrow. © S. Rösner | pixeldiversity
November 30 – December 5, 2026
Members only:
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10% Book discounts
Pelagic Publishing, Holland Publishers and Rosemary Low offer discounts: pdf
Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) singing © S. Rösner | pixeldiversity
Pronunciation Guide
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Common redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) singing © S. Rösner | pixeldiversity
Now!

Free access to the IOU pronunciation guide for scientific bird names. Just search for the name of interest and replay the result as spoken word.

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International Ornithologists' Union (IOU)
© Vanessa Burger
The Future of Birds

“Planet earth is in a global biodiversity and environmental crisis. Ornithologists and Fellows of the International Ornithologist’ Union Professor Lucia Severinghaus and Professor Yossi Leshem are featured in “The Future of Birds” documentary film by Jocelyn Demers. They join the many voices from ornithologists, scientists, birders and others around the world in a shared concern for birds and help us to understand the crucial role that birds play in the interconnectedness of the global natural world, why we need to be concerned and what can be done”

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Short-eared Owl (Asia flammeus) © S. Rösner | pixeldiversity
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© Vanessa Burger
We now are happy to welcome you on our relaunched webpage. A new design and new functions and forms are awaiting our members now. More to come!
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The IOU is back online!
© S. Rösner | pixeldiversity
Follow us on social media to get latest information!
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© S. Rösner | pixeldiversity
Join our network of scientists, enthusiasts and specialists !
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Our working groups
© S. Rösner | pixeldiversity

The International Ornithologists' Union offers:

IOUOrnithology is a global discipline addressing all levels of avian biology in birds from ecosystems to molecules, linking basic and applied research, and nurturing education and outreach. The IOU seeks to support, promote, and advance avian biology.

Working groups

Specialists offer a variety of knowledge and organize meetings.. Apply to join the group of your interest.

IOU forums

All members of the IOU have free access to the new forum. Here, you can discuss recent research, ask questions on field work, methods, conservation, issues, ...

IOCongress®

The IOU is hosting the International Ornithological Congresses (#IOCongress) on a 4-years turnus. We will inform members about all details ...

Latest Blog Posts

21 Dec

Back to the south : Youtube video online

The documentary describes the American Golden plover (Pluvialis dominica) and the Buff-breasted sandpiper's (Calidris subruficollis) experiences during their stay between the lagoons and the ocean, in the Uruguayan East coast. The film focuses on their interaction and coexistence with the native fauna.

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01 Nov

IOU webinar: "How and why species Multiply"

Webinar Description: Peter and Rosemary Grant have been studying Darwin’s finches on the Galápagos islands since 1973. The fieldwork is designed to understand the causes of an adaptive radiation. It combines analyses of archipelago-wide patterns of evolution with detailed investigations on two islands, Genovesa and Daphne. By integrating ecology, behavior and genetics, they have revealed how species ...

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22 Aug

IOU Flutter Vol 3 (2)

A new issue of the Flutter – the IOU Newsletter – has appeared. You will find new information about the IOCongress 2022, a message from the president, and many contributions by our editor!

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05 May

IOCongress 2022: Submission for contributions

Ornithological conferences are important as they stimulate learning, interactions and outcomes that benefit bird species and their habitats. The IOCongress™ 2022 in Durban, South Africa, promises to deliver, with over 40 symposia on an extensive range of topics. The IOCongress™2022 will be a hybrid of virtual and physical attendance and aims to be inclusive, especially for young ornithologists and those from the Global South. Another reason ornithologists often travel to conferences is to watch birds. So, we are trying to make birding an important part of the IOCongress™ 2022 and have involved BirdLife SA and local bird guides to be available for delegates wishing to experience some of the amazing birding South Africa has to offer.

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