Introduction to Ornithology: Watching Birds Properly

👉 Enrolled? Tap the “Start Learning” button in the course box — near the top on your phone, (to the right on a computer). The list below is just the menu of what’s inside.

Ornithology is the branch of zoology that concerns the scientific study of birds — their physiology, behaviour, ecology and evolution. This free taster course, built by our resident birding specialist, teaches you the first and most valuable skill of the science: how to truly watch a bird. You will learn why the experts look at colour last, what a bill quietly tells you about a bird’s whole life, and which seven great bird families to meet first in Southern Africa — one of the finest birding regions on Earth. Finish the quiz and earn a certificate of completion with its own verification ID.

All photography in this course is the original field work of our specialist, Johann Roos.