The Bird Division of the Museum of Zoology is a collection of resources for people who conduct research on or need information about birds. The two Division curators and various graduate students conduct research on the phylogenetic relationships, evolution and behavior of a wide variety of birds using museum collections, molecular techniques, and captive and field studies.

The Cuckoos, by Robert Payne
The Cuckoos,
by Dr. Robert B. Payne.(more)
Cover, The Evolving World by David P. Mindell
The Evolving World,
by Dr. David P. Mindell (more)
Cover, Nestling Mouth Markings and Colors of Old World Finches Estrildidae
Nestling Mouth Markings and Colors of Old World Finches Estrildidae,
by Robert B. Payne (more)
Cover, Birds of the Keweenaw Peninsula
Birds of the Keweenaw Peninsula,
by Laurence C. Binford (more)

Bird Division News & Publications

We are participating in the NSF funded Ornis project to georeference our localities, allowing mapping of specimens and retrieval of data. Data entry begins in September 2007.

Thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation, we have replaced all of our old study skin and egg specimen cases with new archival quality cases, including acid free paper, new case and drawer labels, and new egg boxes. We moved the specimens starting in July 2003 and finished in April 2005.

Peregrine Falcons!

peregrine image

We have been monitoring a nesting pair at the University of Michigan Carillon tower. (more)