Museum Collections

Ornithology scientific collections are more than just drawers of bones, feathers and labels—they represent a living archive of our planet’s avian history and biodiversity built on over 250 years of exploration, curiosity, and dedication. Each specimen, carefully preserved and documented, tells a story—not only of the bird itself but of the time and place it came from, the people who collected it, and the ecosystems it once inhabited.

These collections are a powerful bridge between the past and the future. Whether a bird was collected in the 1800s with hand-written field notes or just last year, every specimen holds timeless scientific value. They are the raw data of biodiversity: tangible evidence of how species have evolved, shifted their ranges, adapted—or disappeared.

With each specimen comes a wealth of associated information, making these collections indispensable to a wide spectrum of research. They inform everything from ecology and systematics to the study of molting patterns, anatomical variation, gene expression, and even the effects of climate change. Researchers use them to investigate migration routes, reproductive timing, evolutionary development (ontogeny), social behavior, and predator-prey dynamics. They help us reconstruct ancient ecosystems through paleontology and enrich our understanding of species interactions in modern food webs. They even contribute to artistic and educational efforts, such as scientific illustration and wildlife conservation strategies.